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HISTORY 



OF THE 



STATE OF NEW YORK. 



POR THE USE OF 



COMMON SCHOOLS, ACADEMIES, NORMAL AND 

HIGH SCHOOLS, 

AND OTHER SEMINARIES OF INSTRUCTION. 



.-^^ a"' 



S?S:' RANDALL 

SCP.ai.T....XT OP PCBUO S^C^HOOLS OP TH« CXT. OP KKW .OOK. 




NEW YORK: 
J. B. FORD AND COMPANY. 

1870. 






3 APR I 'i 

Copy-- ' 



J. II. ►OKI* Axn c<»M»'Asy. 
^ ib„ r -rw . . .r^ r the Ih.trt-t r'oun f- th. s<.uih.n. Wrtrtrl oT H^ Tort 



Umitmsitv P«b*»: W«tcM. Bioblow. * Co, 
Camb«iocb. 



PREFACE. 



So far as I am aware, the compilation uow presented to the 
pubhc is the first attempt at providing for our elementary and 
higher institutions of learning a separate History of the State 
of New York. Many of the most important events in that 
history are, it is true, contained in the current school histories 
of the United States ; necessarily, however, greatly abridged and 
condensed. It has seemed to me, and to others interested in the 
work of popular education, that some attempt should be made 
to supply this deficiency by presenting within a convenient 
compass the prominent outlines of those interesting details 
which have rendered our own '' Empire State " so conspicuous 
in the history of the great American Republic. 

In the execution of the work it has, of course, been found 
necessary to draw very largely upon the materials furnished by 
the earlier and later annalists of the State and nation; and I 
take especial pleasure in acknowledging the obligations I have 
been under to my esteemed friend, Mary L. Booth, whose 
" History of the City of New York," as condensed from the 
most reliable sources, embodies the principal events of that of 
the State up to the period of the Revolutionary War. I have 
also been greatly indebted to Judge Hammond's " Political His- 
tory " of the State for a clear and lucid detail of the successive 
administrations of the government from its origin to the ter- 
mination of that of Governor Wright. From that period to 
the close of the present year I have carefully consulted the 



IT PliEFACE. 

various Public Documents of the State, unci the contornj»«-»rn,ry 
annals of the public press. To my ro^j'octcj friend, Hknut 
B. Dawson, the well-known author of the " Battles of the 
American Republic," I am under sjK'cial obi us for the ac- 

curate details of the militar}' aud navid contesta which have shed 
so brilliant a lustre ujx)n our histon- iia a Sta 

The Appendix will Ih) found to contain the Constitution of 
the State as amended by the Convention of 1867 - 68 ; a statis- 
tical account of the population according to tho census of 1.^ ...>, 
and tho several subec^iucnt enumerations down to 1865 ; listii 
of tho respective Governors from 1G24 to the preaent time, 
and Lieutenant-flovcniors and Speakers of tho Assembly from 
tho period of tho adoption of tho first State Constitution ; and 
lists of lUilroads and Canals in the State, thoir extent, and the 
cost of their construction and maintenimce. 

In the confident ho|)o that the work may l>e found worthy of 
adoption in our common s aai . , and other i 

naries of learning throughout the State, I rc«|)ortfully commend 
it to the favorable reganl of the great body of teachers, school 
ofTiccrs, and other friends of education, within its borders 

a a RANDALL 
Nbw York, Janouy, 1870. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Paqs 



Physical Features op the State. — Public Works. — Geol- 
ogy. — Climate, etc. 7-9 

FIRST PERIOD. 
INDIAN OCCUPANCY. 

The Algonquins or Delawares. — Mohegans. — Manhattans. — The Five 
Nations. — Character and Objects of the Confederacy. — Chiefs, 
Sachems, and Orators. — The Tortoise, Bear, and Wolf Tribes.— 
Founders of the Confederacy. — Traditions. — Strawberry of the 
Great Spirit. — Conquests of the Iroquois. — Accession of the Tus- 
caroras. — Fidelity to the English. — Comparative Numbers . .10-13 

SECOND PERIOD. 
DISCOVERIES AND SETTLEMENTS. — THE DUTCH GOVERNMENTS. 

CHAPTER I. 

John de Verrazzano. — Samuel Champlain. — Henry Hudson. — His 
Employment by the Dutch East India Company. — Entrance into 
New York Bay. — Intercourse with the Indians. — Discovery of the 
River. — Voyage up the Hudson to Albany. — Return to Europe. — 
His Death. — Fur-Trade Expeditions from Holland. — Adrien Block. 

— Foundation of New York City. — Explorations and Discoveries. — 
New Charter. — Association of Merchants. — United New Nether- 
lands Company. — Indian Council at Tawasentha. — Treaty of Al- 
liance. — Progress of the Fur-Trade. — English Claims. — Charter 
to Ferdinando Gorges and his Associates. — West India Company. — 
Colonization of New Netherlands. — Cornelissen Jacobsen May. — 
Settlements on Manhattan and Long Island and Fort Orange. — Wil- 
liam Verhulst 14-19 

CHAPTER II. —Administration of Peter Minuit. 

Purchase and Settlement of Manhattan Island.— Friendly Relations with 
English Colonists. — Church Organization. — Murder of a Westches- 
ter Indian. — Grants of Territory to Fatroons and other Settlers. — 
Introduction of Slavery. — The Rensselaerwyck Fatroons. — Progress 
of Manhattan Colony. — Controversy with Fatroons. — English 
Claims. — Recall of Minuit. — Swedish Settlement on the Delaware. 

— Death of Minuit 19-22 



^i coyTKyrs. 

CHAPTER III. — ADM1SI8TBATIOX or Woi'TKB Vam Twillbr. 

His Character. — C<>r.tn>vor«y with Dominic Bo^r>lu». — Adam Roiv- 
latiJ^u, the Fint l>a>! !:<>buildiiif of the Koft. — KrDctioo oC 

n f'),nr.-h. — Jf\. 'i r. ;ki;. \ - ii to Manhattan. — Deflance of the 
I ,r*» Ai. — rrocc«<linff» of Van TwiUer. — 1' «^t» 

with the Knglifth < ^ on th' ' J K*- 

oonqucjit of K'lrt N . . — Kap.. > ii;i * "nicr. — 

Coolrovcr»y wr i ^ - 1 . rklari i TwiHcr. — I'tir- 

chaM of Pavonia 31-24 

CHAPTEU IV. — AomiiiSTBATiox or Wiuibi^ KiBrr. 

DUBr;'-- - " •'- <5-. II ». .• 1— V *^K„rt<jr of r- •'".-«*. — 

> •. — Af >n th« 

Karitan, >N and Mohawk Indian*. — In<i i i MuAacro at 

favonia. — ' ' — 

lla*"^'"'"" .... ... i.-......^. ..^..; of 

P«o. ..... 36-11 

CnAl*TER V. — -vLMi.-^isiuAiios UK Petkb SruvrBAAMT. 

R«prM«nUtivo Omncil. — ^ ^ * it. — A'^iutmetit of 

ft.i-M.t'trtc* between t-. v.rf.fttouta. ^ llan- 

! . and Uruoklyn G- lOt. — R«con> 

qnmt of Sw(>di*h I the b A uf Indinn Iloa- 

r" t'atent to u. ■ ' 'to 

L.„ .„.p.„a.— Death . M-a« 



THIRD PERIOD. 

ENGLISH OOVEKNMKNT. 

CII.M'TF.R I. — Adwixihtratioxs or Govrnfon* Niroi iji 

IxiVKt^CB, AMD A.HOBOa. 

.New City Charter. — Arbitrary Ileaanre« «f LoTdac«. — R- 

by the Dutch. — RMtoratJoQ to the . — rmrwdlng* again«t 

Lorttlac« and Manning. — Arbitrary Co<*duct of Androt. — Hi* recall 87-40 

CIIAI*TER II. — ADMixt(iTBATio5 or Thomas Doxoaw. 

BepreMntatire AA«erobly. — Charter of Libcrtiea. — Arbitrary Moaa- 
urcs of JamcA II. — Alliance and Conqae«t« of the IroqooU. — Coun- 
cil at A T 'i. — De la Bams. — Dwoo- 

▼lllc. — i . .nch — T?, ,-1 ..f Goremor 

Donfran. — At II. — <>nr« .-♦*. — Ja- 

oob Lcislcr 4 1 - 46 

CHAPTER III. — AniiixKTRATiO!*!! or Jacoh It; i . n a»cd 
Governors SLX)uaiiTP.R akd Flbtchhr. 

Committee of Sjifety. — The B«tf«»ry. — Rnminff of Sch. :,. . Uvly. — 
Naral 1 ,0. — ArriTal of In- 

foMsby u:i>i (juvcntor 5iou£Qtcr. — i^'ufai ui Lirfiltr to 



CONTENTS. vii 

the Government. — Arrest and Execution of Leisler and Milbome. — 
Treaties with the Iroquois. — Governor Fletcher. — Bradford's Print- 
ing-Press. — Church Controversy. — Trinity Church. — Invasion of 
Frontenac. — Piratical Depredations 45-49 

CHAPTER IV. — Administrations of the Earl of Bella- 
MONT, Lords Cornbury and Lovelace, and Lieutenant- 
Governor Ingoldsby. 

Captain William Kidd. — Honors to Leisler and Milbome. — Trial 
and Conviction of Bayard. — Lord Cornbury. — Establishment of a 
Grammar-School. — Lord Lovelace. — Queen Anne's War. — Expe- 
ditions against Canada 49-52 

CHAPTER V. — Administrations of Robert Hunter, 
William Burnet, and John Montgojierie. 

German Immigrants. — Lewis Morris. — Failure of the Canadian Ex- 
peditions. — Governor Hunter and the Assembly. — Court of Chan- 
cery. — Chief-Justice Morris. — Peter Schuyler. — Governor Burnet. 

— His Counsellors. — French Missionaries and Traders. — Conven- 
tion at Albany. — Opposition of the Assembly. — New York Gazette. 

— Governor Montgomerie . . » .52-55 

CHAPTER VL — Administration of Governor Cosby. 

Contest with Rip Van Dam. — Arbitrary Measures of Cosby. — Ti-ial 
and Acquittal of John Peter Zenger on an Indictment for Libel. — 
Popular Triumph. — Andrew Hamilton. — Sons of Liberty . .55-59 

CHAPTER VII. — Administrations of George Clarke, Admiral 
Clinton, Sir Danvers Osborne, and Sir Charles Hardy. 

Dissolution of the Assembly. — Disfranchisement of Jews. — Slavery 
in New York. — The Negro Plot. — Reign of Tei-ror. — Number of 
Victims. — Dissensions with the Assembly. — Popular Discontent. — 
Suicide of Governor Osborne. — Lieutenant-Governor De Lancey. — 
Changed Position of Parties. — Sir Charles Hardy . . . .59-63 



FOURTH PERIOD. 

FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 

CHAPTER I. — Administration of Lieutenant-Governor De 

Lancey. 

French Incursions. — Washington's ]\Iission to St. Pierre. — Fort du 
Quesne. — Surrender of Fort Necessity. — Treaties Avith the Iroquois. 
— Convention at Albany. — Franklin's Plan of Confederation. — 
Events of 1755. — General Johnson's Campaign. — Fort Edward. — 
Lake George. — Repulse of Dieskau. — Fort William Henry. — Shir- 
ley's Expedition against Niagara. — Campaign of 1756. — Attack 
upon Oswego. — Death of Colonel Mercer. — Quartering of Troops in 
New York . . . . . * . • • • • .64-69 



viii COXTKyf:^. 

CHAPTER II. 

C«rr- r™ of 1767. — Sle>ge of Fort WillUun Henry. — Treacherr of 
— Surrender of the Fort luid MoMacre of the GarriMxi by the 
Indians. — Campaign of 1758. — Attack upon Fort Tioooderoga. — 
Doath of Lorl Howe. — Hctreat of the English. — \ ' •' ntcnac — 
Capture of Foru Du (^ue«ne, Ticooderoga, Crow; t, and Ni- 
agara. — Siege and Captur« of Quebec. — Death of Wolfe and Mont- 
calm. — Capture of Montreal. -- Xa\-ml Warfare- — Treaty of Peace. 
— Death of Lieuten:t nior I>« Laoccy. — AdminirtraUoo of 

Cadwallader Colden ^rt Moocktoo. — ludepaodaoce of the 

Judiciary 70-76 



FIFTH PERIOD. 
THE RKVOLUTlr>XARY WAB. 

CHAPTEK I. 

MatloQ Ix t w a a n thn (?o!on!rv and KngfauML — Reatriotlflm apoo Com- 
merce and Na- •*• of the Olooiea. — DemaiMU of th« 
Crown. — Pa«Mige of the .stamp AcL — lu rec< " Colonlea. 

— Proceedlngn at New Y -^ ^ -• '* ' • w *..,^...- »-^Ia- 
ration of Bighu. — Arri% . Mx-eetling* • -«• 
of Liberty. — Attack on the Fort. — Noo-Intercour»e AKreomenL — 
Articles of Confederation propoaed. — Arriral of Sir H a« 
Governor. — Procowlinjr* of tlie Aweni*''- ^'...^^1 -, . ...inp 

AcL — Patriotic Celebration*. — Erecti< rrty Pole . 76 - SS 

CHAPTEK IT 

Con' ■ ••■'v»n the G.»vpni<ir at. ' \tt^ 

P« '-■ — Tax on Tea. — I 

of the • -. — The .*»on« of Liberty. — Proceeding! of the 

biy. — ICf. Agreement. — Death of G 

Moore.— I ..rtu — Public M-"'-' "■ — ' 

Colonial h t. — Arrv*t of John I,nmb an 

IfcDougall . . bZ-^ 

CHAPTER III. 

Attack.4 upon the Liberty Pole. — Riotous Pfrw-*>^ -?:,.<». r.r #i,<, Soldiera. 

— Excitement of the Citizens — Public ' * of Lib. 
erty. — Battle of Golden Hill. — Governor Colden* l»r*palr' . . — 
Hnmp^lcn Hnll. — -^ ■' A defence of ttv ' " '" '•. — Vjola- 
tion of N'on-Iinix : \^reeracnt. — Pr _ .jio Son* of 
Liberty. — Ix)nl Dunmore. — Proceodit. .»t McDoagall . M- 91 

CHAPTER IV. — AiiMixiSTRATioNH or Govi : ■■ k^ Iin.v axd 

CoLDE.t. 

Shipmenta of Tea — Spirited Proc««dln(C« of the Son* of Liberty. — 
New York " Tea Party." — Vigilance Committee. — Public Meeting 



CONTENTS. 



it 



of Citizens. — Non-Importation League. — Second Colonial Congress. 

— Proceedings of the Assembly. — First and Second Provincial 
Congress. — First Continental Congress. — Arrival of the Asia — 
Disturbances in the City. — Sons of Liberty. — Provisional Gov- 
ernment. — Patriotic Demonstrations. — Capture of Ammunition at 
Turtle Bay — General Wooster encamps at Harlem. — Embarkation 

of Royal Troops. — .Recapture of Arms by the Citizens . . .91-97 

CHAPTER v. — Events of 1775. 

Capture of Ticonderoga and Crown Point. — Organization of New York 
Regiments. — Removal of the Guns on the Battery. — Cannonade of 
the City by the Asia. — Demand for Satisfaction. — Abdication of 
Governor Tryon. — Demolition of Rivington's Press. — Invasion of 
Canada. — Siege and Capture of St. John's. — Disastrous Expedition 
of Allen. — Siege of Quebec. — Death of Montgomery and Defeat of 
Morgan and Arnold. — Retreat of American Troops . . 97 - 103 

CHAPTER VL — Events of 1776. 

Investment of New York by Howe and Clinton. — Preparations for De- 
fence. — Declaration of Independence. — Proceedings of Provincial 
Congress at White Plains. — Battle of Long Island. — Retreat of 
Washington to New York and Harlem Heights. — Arrest and Exe- 
cution of Nathan Hale as a Spy. — Landing of Howe at Kip's Bay. — 
Evacuation of the City. — Skirmish at Harlem. — Retreat to White 
Plains. — Battle of White Plains. — Captures of Forts Washington 
and Lee. — Retreat through New Jersey. — Naval Combat on Lake 
Champlain 103-110 

CHAPTER VII. — Administration of Governor George Clin- 
ton. — Events op 1777. — First State Constitution. 

Occupation of the City of New York by the British. — The Neutral 
Ground. — CoAV-Boys and Skinners. — The Provincial Congress. — 
Committee of Safety. — Destruction of Mllitaiy Stores at Peekskill. 

— Attack on Sag Harbor. — Constitutional Convention. — Election of 
Governor and Staff Officers. — Congressional Delegates. — Barbarous 
Treatment of Prisoners. — The Sugar-House. — Provost Jail and 
Jersey Prison-Ships. — Attack on Ticonderoga, — Retreat of Schuy- 
ler and St. Clair. — Murder of Jane McCrea. — Kosciusko. — At- 
tack upon Fort Schuyler. — Battle of Oriskany. — Indian Ambus- 
cade 110-113 

CHAPTER VIII. — Events of 1777. — Burgoyne's Campaign. 

First and Second Battles of Stillwater. — Battle at Bemis's Heights. 

— Dissension between Gates and Arnold. — Retreat of Burgoyne to 
Saratoga. — His Surrender. — Its Effects. — Capture of Forts Clinton, 
Montgomery, and Constitution by the British. — Burning of Kings- 
ton 116-121 

CHAPTER IX. — Events of 1778 and 1779. 
Indian and Tory Atrocities. — Destruction of Cobleskill. — Massacre at 



pt COyTEXTS. 

Chem* Valley. — Capture aod Recapture of Stonj Point and Ver- 
plauck's Tuinu — Sun'rue of hriti»h at i'aulu* Hook. — Attack upon 
MiniMiik by ! --ditioo againat th« 

Indmii*, — l)c- ... m-lS8 

CII.xrTEU X— KvEJtTS or 1780, 1761. — TKeA»o!( or UkiN^DicT 

Ak.nold. 

HU Or -•• ' W • p -• r '■ ' •» »- '-^ \ 

mi ,. 

— luton'iew between Arnold and Andr^. — Ki-trcAt and Capture uf 

Andrd at Tarr}*town. — ' vv»n. — 

K!i •'•• ■■'' ^•■•■•■'' -*'■■■ ...... •• \ 

Sh .r« of .\ 

Caraer. — Kxecutiun of Migor Andn^. — Ueneral ^ hy for hU 

1 Y'A ' War. — General Kej<r>! 

/ _i-, •• Ariiiv. — KV"-. •!''■ 

of Wu i'cr*.— 

to Mount Vcr 126-136 



SIXTH PERIOD. 
TIIK STATK GOVKRNMKXT. 
CIIArrEU I.— ADMtxiaTRATioir or Goverxob Georos Cliktov. 

PoaltJon of \ ' *• of the War. — Article* ' <' ' > -• • 

'— Pr; - Modification. — S!.ntr .lea 

of New York. — Prr>cee«lin«r« of the !-■ .r©. — ( — Xa- 

tlonal C* 1 at I'i — 
Th - ' -.St«>. 
til i.»n. — I 

tlon of Parties. — - The 1 1»U"-- VIewt and Ar;. of the 

R«apcctivc Pnrtie*. - 'i^^*- 

tion of the Con^titutfii. — ^..i-.. ,. ^. .....«....:._. .. ;ire- 

»cntatiTe« in ConicreM .137-144 

CHAPTER H. — Ai>Mi.Hi«TEATi<>> <'» GoTBftvos Gbokob Cuxtox. 

First M ' ' f^ ^mui at N>w York. — Organ! • nf the National 

G Arrival of tho President and \ p«i«lcnL — I:.- 

nmphnl PmgreM of Wn i. — The Inanioiration. — Ko- i 

of Governor Clinton. — ' n ff»r the \ 

Pt:''- '" '• »- ■-. I, I ■ ' S*-*,-v < 

ol" , . .1. — M-' ■. ^ ■• : • I 

Intion of the State. — Internal Iinpro\-ement« Public Land* 

Western fiu>\ N' ition Companle*. ^ ' 
dentinl Klcctont. — •..um ..i.-m-m, ... ij.^vcmor Clinton-— t .;..- .» 
Genet 144-150 



CHAPTER III. — Ar)MiMSTR\Tio>« or Govr.nxoBS (ii'i;.!: 

Cli.nton a.su Joiix Jat. 



Meetinp of the I.op>lature. — Governor'^ >f' 
Common^School System. — United > 



CONTENTS. xi 

elected Governor. — Bill for the Abolition of Slavery. — Presidential 
Electors. — Congressional Elections. — Comptroller. — Location of the 
Capital at Albany. — Election of Adams and Jefferson as President 
and Vice-President. — State Elections. — Re-election of Governor Jay 
and Lieutenant-Governor Stephen Van Rensselaer. — State of Par- 
ties. — Legislative Proceedings. — Apprehension of War with France. 

— Internal Improvements. — Origin of the Canal System. — General 
Washington's Exploration and Views. — Christopher Colles. — Legis- 
lative Encouragement. — Philip Schuyler and Elkanah Watson. — 
Manhattan Bank Charter. — Alien and Sedition Laws. — Death of 
Washington. — Funeral Honors. — Legislature of 1800. — State Elec- 
tions. — Triumph of the Democratic Party. — Presidential Electors. 

— United States Senators. — Nominations of National and State Can- 
didates 150-158 

CHAPTER IV. — Administratiox of Governor George Clinton. 

Organization of the Common-School System. — Contest between Jeffer- 
son and Burr for the Presidency. — Re-election of Governor George 
Clinton and Lieutenant-Governor Jeremiah Van Rensselaer. — State 
Constitutional Convention. — Appointment of Chancellor Lansing. — 
Meetins: of the Legislature. — Attorney-General. — United States 
Senators. — De Witt Clinton and Aaron Burr. — Duel between Clin- 
ton and Swartwout. — Parties in the Legislature. — Appointments 
and Removals. — Proceedings of the Legislature. — Election of Gov- 
ernor Lewis and Lieutenant-Governor Broome. — Duel between Ham- 
ilton and Burr. — Death of Hamilton. — His Chai'acter and Ser- , 
vices. — Funeral Obsequies. — Governor Clinton elected Vice-Presi- 
dent 158-163 

CHAPTER V. — Administrations of Governors Morgan Lewis 

AND Daniel D. Tompkins. 

Meeting of the Legislature. — Special Message of the Governor relative to 
Common-School Education. — Common-School Fund. — Free-School 
Society in New York. — Stephen Arnold. — Coalition of Federalists 
and Republicans. — Election of Governor Tompkins. — Trial and Ac- 
quittal of Burr for Treason. — First Steamboat on the Hudson. — 
History of the Enterprise. — Livingston and Fulton. — British Orders 
in Council. — Berlin and Milan Decrees. — The Embargo. — State 
of Parties. — Proposed Erie Canal. — Survey of the Route. — Ap- 
pointment of Commissioners. — Departiire of Burr for Europe. — 
Election of President Madison and Vice-President Clinton. — Pro- 
ceedings of the Legislature. — Spring Elections. — Re-election of 
Governor Tompkins and Lieutenant-Governor Broome. — Prepara- 
tions for War with England 163 - 168 



D 



CHAPTER VI. — Administration of Governor Tompkins. — Sec- 
ond War with Great Britain. 

Condition of National Affairs. — Nomination of De Witt Clinton for the 
Presidency. — Proceedings of the Legislature. — Appointment of 
Commissioners for the Establishment of Common Schools. — Bill 
for the Construction of the Erie Canal. — Application to Congress 



xa COyTENTS. 

and State L^p^^latitres. — Death of Licutenant-Gownor Rrornne and 
Election of NichoUu Fish. — ' (' the Commoo-bcbool 
Sjttem. — Bank of America. of the L^^blatnra. — 
Death of Vice-Presideul George * — Betum of Colonel 
Burr. — Deatii of Tbeodocia Burr AUion. — Sub»equcnl Career and 
Death of Burr. — West f l rial and Acquit- 
tal of I>avul Thomas aii. erj'. — I'rogreM 

of the War. — Campaign of 1811. — h r of Dein.il by Hull. — 

Naval Victories. — Fleets on I^Uies Lrie and Untario. — AtUck 
on SacV. Harbor ' >gd«nsbarg. — Battle of Queenstown 

Heights. , ure of . i Troops at Sl Regis. —Presidential 

Electon In favor of Mr. Clinton chosen. — Ke<election of President 
Madison 169-178 

CIIArTKk Vll— AnnixiaTRATioii or Govr.RjroR ToMrKiits. — 

SaCOND WaK with (>KRAT UKITAl.f. 

Klocti >:i • : ' -'.atr* .'><?n«' ^ -iuten*! ' imroon .Vliools. 

— I)f4»:i. . . .iH'-U'T l.i\...^-: i;c-c|p<;. .. . (>«>v«?niur Tomp- 

liia«. — rn.prr** of the War. — Campaign of lbl3. — Nuval Victo- 
rip* and I^rfpAtA — Death of < Ijiwreoce. — Reacue of Amer- 

ican t'ri*4>! Canatla. — uuiiiura of Ogdooaborg. — Capture 

of York ail 'f 7.».ul.n> %f.Miti».imi»rv Plka. — Capture of Fort 

(irorpv — A '»or. — Attack njion 

H!:v k I: ' j'lure oi the Argus by the Pelican. — T! r. 

— 1 orpruc. — P«n7*s Victory oo Lake Erie. — iutiiic of 
t''- vi...^ — '^■'-— — • ■ '' \T:^v;*i»n Territory. — Abortive Ex- 

' t « agai; at Chatranr«<r — Rattle of 

< r'» Farm. — Kract. Fort George. - C Newark 

aii.l iju'^^n^town. — Ritalin!...';. I> •{•ton, 

Y->Mng»town, and other Places.— *^- — — .. Itlark 

i; k .179-196 

CIIAPTEU VIII — Annixi^TiiATio* or C .» Tompkikh. — 

Second War with Grkat D»..^..^. 

Legislative Pmree.'-— *•• • ' ^ -'- » =i- 

tlorw to Colli»gi' - .'. 
ti •.*. — Pn^l^rrvu of the War. — Cn of 1814. — Movrmenta 
. ■ - Attji. • * •■•s 
r . . '•"' le 
British :'S 
Hi»rlH.r. — Action at San<iy t'n>««k. — Capture of Fort Erie. — Hat- 
ties of Chippewa and I.uudy's I jum 196-191 

Cn.Vl*Tr.U IX. — Admi^hitkatio^ or noreR^ron ToMPKiwa. — 8«o- 
o!«D War with Grrat Britain. — CAMrAiox or 1814. 

StefB of Fort Erie. — Defeat of the 1 and Burning of 

V • • "- -ntion« for I' 'V v ' _ 

i < iovem«»r T' , > k. 

— Attack upon Platt*burjr. — McDonouKh's Vlctorr oo Ijike Cham- 
plain.- - ' .t 

ern* . . " at . • • 19S-1M 



CONTENTS. xiii 

CHAPTER X. — Administrations of Governors Tompkins and 
De Witt Clinton. — Close of the War. 

Treaty of Peace with Great Britain. — Battle of New Orleans. - United 
States Senator. — Attorney-General. — Erie and Champlain Canals. 
_ Great Meetings in New York and Albany. - Energetic Efforts of 
De Witt Clinton. — Canal Commissioners. — Survey of Route. — 
Election of President Monroe and Vice-President Tompkins. — Abo- 
lition of Slavery. — Resignation of Governor Tompkins. — Election of 
Governor De Witt Clinton and Lieutenant-Governor Tayler. — Act 
for the Construction of the Canal. — Commencement of the Work.— 
New Organization of Parties. — Common Schools. — The Lancasterian 
System of Instruction. — Domestic Manufactures. — Spring Elections. 
— Clintonian Triumph. — Meeting of the Legislature. — Governor Clin- 
ton's Message. — Accounts of Vice-President Tompkins. — Contro- 
versy with the Comptroller. — First Boat on the Erie Canal. — United 
States Senator. — Exciting Political Campaign. — Re-election of Gov- 
ernor Clinton and Lieutenant-Governor Tayler. — Canal Policy . 199 - 206 

CHAPTER XI. — Administration of Governor De Witt Clinton. 

Legislature of 1821. — Special Message of the Governor. — Act for Con- 
stitutional Convention. — United States Senator. — Canal Commis- 
sioner. — Removal of Gideon Hawley as Superintendent of Common 
Schools. — Appointment of his Successor. — Abolition of the Office, 
and its Annexation to the State Department. — Meeting, Organiza- 
tion, and Proceedings of the State Constitutional Convention.— 
Outlines of the New Constitution. — Its Adoption by the People . 207-210 



SEVENTH PERIOD. 

FROM THE CONSTITUTION OF 1821 TO THE CONSTITUTION OF 1846. 

CHAPTER L — Administrations of Governors Joseph C.Yates 

AND De Witt Clinton. 

Abolition of Lotteries. -Literature Lottery. - Election of Govenior 
Yates and Lieutenant-Governor Erastus Root - Democrat c Ma- 
jority in the Legislature. - Appointment of Chancellor, Judges of 
Supreme Court, and Circuit Judges. - Elechon of State ^^^'''■- 
Fall Elections. -The "People's Party." - Legislative Proceedings. 
- The Electoral Law. - Removal of Governor Clinton as Canal 
Commissioner. -Public Indignation. - Extra Session of the Legisla- 
ture. - Election of Governor Clinton and Lieutenant-Governor 
Tallmadge.- Triumph of the "People's Party." - Candidates for 
the Presidency. - State of Parties. - Visit of General Lafayette 
and his Public Reception in New York. - Election of President 
John Quincy Adams and Vice-President Calhoun. — State Koaa 
throucrh Southern Tier of Counties. — Minister to England. — 1 our 
of Governor Clinton through Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kentucky. — 
Completion of the Erie and Champlain Canal.- Grand Celebration. 
-Imposing Ceremonies at New York. -Illuminations, Processions,^ ^^^^ 
and Fireworks 



xir CnVTFXTS. 

ClIAPTEn II. —Third ADMi!(i8TRATio!t or GuTCRsrom D« Witt 

Clistos. 

Oominon S' !. - v — I l;r:i:i..ti «.f Tr.t<-h«Tv — Sr^tr RudU. — 1 1 

Sl*l«"« >• • < ";..<i. ••.! >r. "^ '■ • ■' ^'..i'.-, ttiid > ■-•-■• 

.s. :. • . >.^'-nu — Abduciiua oT U tUtatn M 'jk'-^'- — J^'* «'l«cUoo o^ 

(!•::. r < . ••■i. — LioUtolUUIt-Goveniur i' i'nv«>p.lintpi of 

Uio ' • - • - Tb« Canals and hute U Ccxian^u <. Mial 

— I 4. — K«vUioa of th« Law*. — Death of Tboauu 
Addu ; ' — At. :neiiL — Public Me«(ingt.<i» 
ArnMU, 1 — 1 uulio InHlignatioo apunat Ma> 

•on* — l*> 318 -K3 

CIIAI*TKU III — At>Mi«i»TRATio;rt or LiBirr«jiAJ«T-GoTrRj«o» 
PiTciiKR, GiivRRjiuR Van Hirrx, axu Likl'ti:!iakt-Govi;u?(uu 

TmRooi-. 

I .rmor . '. — Public Pr •■ .:<r of U)« Morgan 

of thr t >• i^'o and ( 'anal BilU. — 

I: " - Kir<'tiuo of Gt*N van Burao and 

L>< Mtp. — FlivtioQ o( . .<*nt JackMMi and 

Vlc»>r: uti. — I • of Um Aiiti-Maaonic Excilo> 

menL — L' :' 1828. — i.- %• r:. r"* M<-*Mip>. — Internal Inv 

proToroenU. — ' Tnw n:. i i>n«!wal of Bank Charters.— 

Stale OAc«rK. . , • • r*,-rf,,r% hv Ct'nfn^ T'trkH. 

^Ooremor Van Burvn ar — 

Hi* R'-*i?i)ation a« 
Throop, — Paaaage ui uir ■ n.»L — Wicaai., 

— D*ath of E«.GoT«n»or .' . . . _. .:7 

Cn.VPTKU IV. — ADiii5fiiTR4TioM OF GorBR?ion I><»4 K. TiiRoor. 

Lrp*!Atar« of IWO. — Gorenwr'a M«»*»a«t». — Rr|ioft of Canal Commb- 
•ionrr* on the Chenanffo Canal. — l>f(r - KlecUon of 

n • ■•' Ti, »._... ...I T :....._ • r. • — ..... ''tx^ 

'>f \' T »* Inltod ^ . and Samuel Nelaaa 

%a 

• ■•-..». »«4 &af'v 

of isai. _ 1 of (. V and : •eroor 

I -v.. — Tcnninatinn of Poiiucal AnU-Maaoory. — Its Reealla.— 

i: . ■• ■:. f M.- ... SS8-333 

CHAPTEU V. — AnMi!(iHTRATio!v or GoTERxoR William L Marct. 

Intomal ImprnTomenta. — Common .VhooU. — ri(><>tion of Sila* Wnrht, 
Jr., and Nathaniel P. Tallmndp» an TnitM State* Senator* ^te 

OOkwm. — Paaaa^e of the C , Canal Rill. — Re-el«>ct«.rt) of 

n<^voi-nnr Marry and Lieiitr: . vfrnnr Trarr. — Prt>pnM>d Ko- 

nt of the Erie Canal. — I.oAn of StJile Credit to BankiL — 
Commercial Bemlsioo. — Incraaae of Bank Charters — Geiteral 



CONTENTS: XV 

Spirit of Speculation. — Academical Departments for Preparation 
of Teachers. — Common-School Libraries. — Death of Surveyor- 
General De Witt. — Construction of the Croton Aqueduct and High 
Bridge. — Great Fire in New York. — Black River and Genesee 
Valley Canals. — New York and Erie Railroad Loan. — Proceedings 
against Senators Kemble and Bishop. — Third Election of Governor 
Marcy and Lieutenant-Governor Tracy. — Election of President Van 
Buren and Vice-President R. M. Johnson. — United States Deposit 
Fund. — Its Livestment. — General Suspension of State Banks. — 
Proceedings of the Legislature. — Death of Ex-Governor Yates and 
Abraham Van Vechten. — Canadian Insurrection. — Occupation of 
Navy Island. — Burning of the Caroline. — Proclamation of Neutral- 
ity.— General Scott despatched to the Frontier. —Diplomatic Nego- 
tiations between the English and American Governments. — Legis- 
lature of 1838. —Mr. Ruggles's Report on Internal Improvements.— 
Passage of General Banking Law. — November Elections. — Tri- 
umph of the Whigs. — Election of Governor Seward and Lieutenant- 
Governor Bradish 233-241 

CHAPTER VI. — Administration op Governor William H. 

Seward. 

Legislature of 1839. — Governor's Message. — Repeal of Act prohibiting 
Small Bills. — State Officers. — Death of Stephen Van Rensselaer. 

— Visit and Reception of President Van Buren. — Legislature of 
1840. — Governor's Message. — Canal Enlargement. — Common 
Schools. — Instruction of Children of Foreigners. — Controversy with 
Virginia. — Abolition of Imprisonment for Debt. — Political Cam- 
paign. — Election of President Harrison and Vice-President Tyler. 

— Death of the President. — Succession of Vice-President. — Re- 
election of Governor Seward and Lieutenant-Governor Bradish. — 
Legislature of 1841. — Governor's Message. — Revenues of the Canals. 

— State Indebtedness. — Education of the Children of Foreigners. — 
Teachers' Departments in Academies. — State Normal School. — Vir- 
ginia Correspondence. — Report of Secretary Spencer on the Public- 
School System of the City of New York. — Revision of the Common- 
School Lav/. — County Superintendents 242 - 248 

CHAPTER VII. — Ad-mixistratiox op Governor "William H. 

Seward. 

Arrest of Alexander McLeod for the Burning of the Caroline. — Demand 
of the British Government for his Release. — Reply of Secretaiy 
Webster. — Decision of the Supreme Court. — Trial and Acquittal 
of McLeod. — Legislature of 1842. — Governor's Message. — The Vir- 
ginia Controversy. — Appropriation of School Money in New York. 

— Colleges, Academies, and Common Schools. — Revenue of the Ca- 
nals. — State Debt. — Internal Improvements. — Financial Condition 
of the State. — Suspension of Public Works. — State Tax. — The Vir- 
ginia Controversy. — Joint Resolution of the Legislature. — Refusal of 
the Governor to transmit the Resolution. — Election of Governor Bouck 

and Lieutenant-Governor Dickinson. — Democratic Triumph . 248-253 
1 



ivi C'OA'/A-VJW. 

CIIArTKIi VIII. — ADMINlSTRATIOJf OF GoTBWOB WiLLlAll C 

lioLCK.. 

Legislature of IMS. — Goreroor** Me^wige — T?'"..- ..:... :i of SIImm 
\Vr ' ' " !•,;•..! S(at«s S«natur. — (j«uiugicMi ^ " • *^'*le. 
— 1 a of S^relary Young. — ' ^-cn 
Lipuieitant - Governor Dickintuu and ihe S«crpuin'. — Mr. Hul- 
bn : Comtnun ScliuoU. — Death of Smith Thoinpcoa 
ail of ''''i'-f-Jutiicw Vi-U..ii to the Bench of tha 
I'l ' urL — I jre of 1M4. — Gorernor'i 
M«MMig«>. — Public l>ebu — Catwl K «•». — Gotninon SchuoU 

Di- ;-nt ami Native-A: I'arliea. — Eiec- 

' I'oik and Vic«>l*rMidei>t I>Kiiaa. — Appc 
- - "^Uoci of Goreruor Slku Wn^^^^ 



CHAI»TER UL — ADMimiTKArio!* or Gotbrhok Siua Weiout. 

Ugi«latnr» of li4A. — GownKf'* Mo«aa««. — ProMcaUoQ of the PaUle 
Work*. — Conimoa School*. — School FumU. — AnU-Tt-"' Oiirra^**. 
— State OAcer*. ~ Klaecfcm of J"hn A. iMx aii<i i> 
ln«oo I'nlted State* Senator*.— "ti (4 Con al Ammd- 

iMota.— Steto ConatitQtkmal r ' :; iiciaiiao to tb« 

Oftoala. — GoTemor'* Veto. — C ' ' '>amflM. — Iid> 

priaciiuiMDt U Dr. BoofhtAn — M .- leriff StaaL — 

Inturrection in Delaware — Mtirtial Law pmclaimed. — Trial 

•od Cooviotion of Aoti-iteui ittotan. — Sappraaaioo of iba Inaoirw- 
Ikm. — Nor<«mrM>p Eleeftona. — Stat* CowlitatloBal Coovantloo ap- 
prored. — U. — Mafnalie TaUfraph. — Profeaaor Motm and 

Henry OReOij UB-ttt 



CH.vrTEU X. — ADMixiftTBATiox or Gotekhob Siuia Wbicht. 

Ligialatart of 1844. — Gtnrmor'i Maaaafr*. — Anti-Rent Firl'.moDt. 

— Sute Debt. — Canal K'^vrnuM. — Report of Superit • of 
Cocnrooo Schoob. — ! -ian, — Di*treM for Kent ab<4. 
l»hed. — r— -:-:tkm-. . n. — Orfaniiation of the F.seco. 
tire, Legi> and Jt. DepartmenU of the State. — QualU 
fication of Voter*. — Prori«ion for Paynvmt of Canal I>ebta, and 
Pr — Loan* of State Credit prohibitad. 

— 1 . ^.. ■-.'•' Debt*. — BanV • ' \«»ortafiaiM 
and Kopi»tnr of Xot«»«. — <■ .n« to be fonr- .-r General 
Law*, — (Vnnmon-Schwl, Literature, and United Sutea Dapodt 
Fonda. — Failure of EflWrt* to e- ' Fre« Schoob thnNagboot tba 

8tata. — Incorporation of Citie* u Af^n^ — AdopdoQ of tba Con- 

•titution. — Election of Goremor Young an<l Lteotemmt-OoT w r n or 
GardiiMr. — Death of Genera] Rout 168-169 



CONTENTS. xvii 



EIGHTH PERIOD. 

FROM 1846 TO 1870. 
CHAPTER I. — Administration op Governor John Young. 

The Mexican War. — Successful Campaigns of Generals Taylor and 
Scott. — Brilliant Sei-vices of Generals Wool, Worth, and Kearney. 

— Conquest of Mexico. — Negotiations for Peace. — The Wilmot 
Proviso. — Proceedings of the Legislature. — Pardon of the Anti- 
Rent Convicts. — Grounds of Executive Clemency. — New York 
Free Academy. — Indian and Colored Schools. — Resumption of the 
Public Works. — Termination of the Mexican War. — Cession of 
California. — Death of Silas Wright. — His Character. — Public 
Honors to his Memory. — State Officers. — Abolition of the Office of 
County Superintendent of Common Schools. — Its Effects. — Legis- 
lature of 1848. — Governor's Message. — Manorial Titles. — Common 
Schools. — Appropriations for Resumption of the Public Works. — 
Corporate Associations. — Free Schools. — State Normal School. — 
Death of Principal Page. — Election of President Taylor and Vice- 
President Fillmore. — Election of Governor Fish and Lieutenant- 
Governor Patterson 270-275 

CHAPTER II. — Administration of Governor Hamilton Fish. — 

Free-School Controversy. 

Legislature of 1849. — Governor's Message. — Act for Establishment of 
Free Schools throughout the State. — Teachers' Departments in 
Academies. — Ex-Governor Seward appointed United States Sena- 
tor. — State Electioife. — Approval of Free-School Bill. — Obstacles 
to its Execution. — Causes of its Unpopularity. — Demand for Re- 
peal. — Efforts of its Friends. — Legislature of 1850. — Governor's 
Message. — State Asylum for Idiots. — Railroad Restrictions. — 
Slavery in the Territories. — Bill for Repeal of Free-School Law. 

— Death of President Taylor. — Accession of Vice-President Fill- 
more. — Admission of California. — Mr. Clay's Compromise Bill. — 
Free-School Canvass, — Majority against Repeal. — Election of Gov- 
ernor Hunt and Lieutenant-Governor Church 276 - 280 

CHAPTER III. — Administration of Governor Washington 

Hunt. 

Legislature of 1851. — Governor's Message. — Free Schools. — Erie Canal 
Enlargement. — Proposed Amendment to Constitution. — Agricultu- 
ral College. — Propositions for Modifications of the Free-School Law. 

— Passage of the Act. — Election of Ex-Governor Fish as United 
States Senator. — Commission for Revision of School Laws. — State 
Officers. ^— Visit of Kossuth. — Legislature of 1852. — Governor's 
Message. — State Debt. — Canal Revenues. — Taxable Property. — 
Free-School Controversy. — Election of Governor Seymour and 
Lieutenant-Governor Church. — President Pierce and Vice-Presi- 
dent King . 280-283 



xviii COMlcyTS. 

CHAPTEU IV. — FiBBT Admixiiitratiom or GormsxoK Ho&atio 

Lagialatun- : i ^'.".. — • . veraor ■ MetMige. — Canal RnlarKeroent. — Stala 
Agricul'urul lint .Nrientiflo CoUega. — Manorial TitJek. — Kailroad 
Cotnpajiifw. — Fiaancial KmbamuftmenU. — Special Scwtioo of tbo 
LagUlalure. — I'mpuMd Aiupiiduieut r Nlio 

School* of lh« Cliy of New York. — « ,. -lera. 

^Stata Offirar*. — L«»gi»l«turp of ihii. -spr. — 

Bariaw of the tlUton* aud CVxi.i -. f the htata. — I'n' 

til' Work*.— Kcurpuittaituii '■ •' M HUa.— < 

— 'Public Inunicti*- • ii*Utatiaoa. .\...- 

— \ Y Superiutemtent ' tO ImtHMtioti. — F 
Uniou hcbfjolt. — Teacban' DepartmenU. — Taaehan' T ■ — 

I. — Claotim of Goraroar CUrk and Licuicaaot* 
u- l*8-li7 

CHAPTKU v. — An«i?«iiiT«ATiosiB or Gotkbxou Mtkojc 1L 

Clakk aku Joiim a. Ki](o. 

Lagblatara of ' —Free SciioaU. — Counir Sujicnrltlon. — 1 \ <• 
Law*. — I'lxn •iii.o- UeaCfietkn of IIm Sale of Li<iu<ir. — ( otif 
with VirKiiiia. — I tie l^aai n i nn Oaea. — De«tru>-tioii of I'm) 
Mob*. — buto ^Uoctiooa. — Triumpb of the N«tivr- American I'artjr. 

— Lty of 1866.— Ballraada. — Knra Sohuol* »til AcmlnniM. 
->8Ui<' *»* for Stt: — " f^ Sebool*. — lli*trirt C<nnmi»»kiii«Ti — 
Blaetinn of Oorcn*- . ^ and Ueataoant'J'vrr^.'f s-l-!*^. — 
PvMidaot Bucbauan and Vico-PrMidrnt Dr< -'•»- 
Uxn of 1867. — Gorent >laMaca. — Caitali^ — V 

of tba Exciee Ijtw. — < ~ _ ct-rf«rjr In the 1 * 

— Elaetioo of Prr«t<Ki i <« ^nator. — i 
Law. — Tax for CompltUoQ of rnblk Work*. — Death and < 
t»r lor Marcy. — Sute Offirer*. — I^agtotatnra 

— r...cii..„ ,-. wirrerDor Morgan and Ueulenauf-f?"**"*'* 

bell :-2vo 



( IIATTKlk VI— Ai»Mt^i*T s r.| <• ' -V n Ki.*..-* D. 

MoaoAS— Tua nt-un K ■ . s. 

Liflaint :.'. IWO. » ---^e Lav*. — Colored 8 > - NntJonal Af- 

IWlr». — John Hr. raaJoo of VirginU. - — K«v 

jection of Cnl.'n'.l-> Amendment. — Legisiatun- of 1W»0.— 

CupitAl ]' of Married Woman.— VUH of tbe 

Prinrp of .. *■ *».niham Lincoln and Hannibal 

Hamlin a* 1 dent. — Ra-elect ion of Gor- 

arnor M<«riran and Ueutenant-tim-eraor Can - Tbe K»i»»«« 

ai " ■"■ -^'ruugle, — Fn*rdom In tbe !• 

C ^.-on the Xofth and South.— i 

n of til iiem State*. — Formation of 

Tt«ional GoTirnroent. — ' 
eUlatorjr Maaaaga of the uovrn><> 
AtUtada of tba LagUlatnra. — Rati- 

MeaCing of MerchanU and Other*. — I'r <iia (i»r 

a Paaoa CoiigraM at Wa*hiDgtoo. — A . 



r.T 



V 


-n 


rro- 



CONTENTS. xix 

from New York. — Failure of the Eflfort. — Election of Ira Harris 
as United States Senator. — Bombardment and Fall of Fort Sum- 
ter. — Proclamation of President Lincoln. — Response of New York. 

— Appointment of Major-Generals Dix and Wadsworth. — March 
of the Seventh Regiment. — General Enthusiasm. — Great Public 
Meeting in New York. — Party Distinctions merged. — Battle of 
Bull Run. — Defeat of the Union Army. — Additional Troops 
forwarded to Washington. — One Hundred Regiments sent to the 
Field 291-298 

CHAPTER VII. — Administration of Governor Edwin D. 
Morgan. — Second Administration of Governor Horatio 
Seymour. — The Southern Rebellion. 

Legislature of 1862. — Governor's Message. — Prosecution of the "War. — 
Continued Support of the Govei'nment. — Completion of the Erie 
Canal Enlargement. — Election of Governor Seymour and Lieuten- 
ant-Governor Jones. — Legislature of 1863. — Governor Seymour's 
Message. — Election of Governor Morgan as United States Senator. 

— Condition of Public Affairs. — National Reverses. — Factious Op- 
position to the War. — Governor Seymour's Fourth-of-July Oration 
at New York. — The Draft Riots. — Interposition of the Governor. 

— Property and Lives destroyed. — United States Troops ordered 
to New York. — The Riots suppressed and the Drafts resumed and 
enforced. — Enlistments and Volunteers. — Legislature of 1864. — 
Governor's Message. — National Affairs. — Revenue of the Canals. 

— State Tax. — Pajonent of Foreign Creditors in Gold. — Contin- 
ued Enlistments of Troops. — Presidential Election. — General Butler 
in Command of the City of New York. — Re-election of President 
Lincoln and Election of Andrew Johnson Vice-President. — Election 
of Governor Fenton and Lieutenant-Governor Alvord. — Conspiracy 
to burn the City of New York. — Execution of Robert Kennedy. — 
Grant's Campaign of 1864. — Brilliant Succession of Victories. — 
Defeat of the Confederate Army at Petersburg. — Capture of Rich- 
mond. — Surrender of General Lee's Army at Appomattox Court 
House. — Surrender of Johnston. — Termination of the War. — As- 
sassination of President Lincoln. — Funeral Honors. — Succession of 
Vice-President Johnson 298 - 305 

CHAPTER VIII. — Administration of Governor Reuben E. 

Fenton. 

Legislature of 1866. — Governor's Message. — Visit of President Johnson 
and Cabinet, General Grant, and Admiral Farragut to the State. 

— Re-election of Governor Fenton and Election of Lieutenant-Gov- 
ei-nor Stewart L. Woodford. — Legislature of 1867. — Governor's 
Message. — Enlarged Locks on the Erie and Oswego Canals. — 
Adoption of Fourteenth Constitutional Amendment prohibiting 
Slavery. — Election of Roscoe Conklin as United States Senator. 

— Establishment of Free Schools throughout the State. — Ad- 
ditional Normal Schools. — State Constitutional Convention. — Re- 
organization of the Judiciary. — Renewal of Anti-Rent Disturb- 
ances. — Legislature of 1868. — Governor's Message. — State Debt. 



COSTEXTS. 

— Constitutional (' •■ . — lu Proc«edKi(r»- — Orfantntioo of 

the '' ' ' ■ 1 • ••. — V"!«ction of Governor Hoflhwn 

ftn , lion of Pri»id«ol Uljr«(M« 8. 

Grmnt aixl Vic«-r : Schuyler Colfax . 80« - 81« 

CHAPTKU IX — AuMisisTBATiojr or Gotk»iiou .t.>,i«« T 

lIoirMA.M. 

X«tgUl«tiir» of lM9.^Govcnx>r'» M<'*«a^>r. — KinaaeM of tli- ^ . <•.— 
ComnoQ Schooto. — KI«ciioo of Kx-(n>YpnK>r Kenton m TnitoJ 
SutM 8oMlor. — Adopcka of tho KiAoMlh CoostltatkMial A 

nMnt Mcaring Cciand fi^n'r..... _ *siibiniMkNi of iIm mw c 

tntion to the People. - with the KxeopCkm of Um 

Judiciary Article. — DemoeffBUo 1 at the Fall F.lectioaa.— 

Laglakmr* of IBTO. — Oorwoor't McMafo. — iUvoeaUoD br Um 
LMtalatora of tta Com^nt to th« Flftivrnth Pnnitltntlrinal Arneod- 

>t SlO-314 

CONCLI N'. — G AL RECAPITrLATION. 

Sunrvr of th^ llittnrr t>r t: — Ita Protnlnent Stalrcmen. 

— GoTcmorv — ' — Lawren. — : • — 
Smmkon nod Bvun 
PiwfclMito, Vlo*.Pn^ 

UnlteU Stale*, mad \ rt. ~ lu I: 

Annr and Xarr. — ^ 

loveoturt. — Repre** — w.- 

mcn- — Hi«tnrian«.— »t* — i 

•iciana. — Uailrnadt, Canal*, a: nal Imj •.•. — Valua- 

tion of Html and Panooal lUute. — kaport ■^■ ' lio 

Sobook. — CoUefM, Acadamiaa, and other ^ ...tng. 

— Nonml Sehoola. — Charitabto and B' .ana. — 
ChurrbM, CaUMdraK and PUcaa of Public Wonhip. — lb* C.'v 
of New York «I6 - 1« 



APPENDIX. 

CoHmrmo* or twb Statu or X«w Yoaa 

Cocsmsa ajto Porti^Tioji or tiib Statb . SM 
Table or I>t-Trn, } Ant* Statw ' • lui "r rtia Statb . StS 

Tahijc or ' ■'-• -rjiA> I '."^ ■ ■ '^ ■ - - - 1 Ait M4 

Tamlk or N . Kiia or rn - iT ••• 

Lirr or RAiLMoADt m tiib State, with Ttirin F.XTwrr aho Coax 9M 
LuT or Caxals or Ttis State, witii Tiiaia Kxtkxt amo Coax 



INTRODUCTION. 



1. The State of New York, one of the Thirteen original 
States of the American Union, is bounded on the north by Can- 
ada, from which it is separated by Lake Ontario and the St. 
Lawrence River ; east by Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connec- 
ticut, from the former of which it is separated by Lake Cham- 
plain ; south by New Jersey and Pennsylvania ; and west by 
New Jersey, a part of Pennsylvania and Lake Erie, — that 
lake and the Niagara River separating it from Canada on the 
western side. 

2. From the northern to the southern extremity of the State, 
its length is 311 miles between the fortieth and forty-fifth 
degrees of north latitude, and from east to west, between the 
seventy-first and seventy-ninth degrees of longitude, it extends 
412 miles, — comprising an area of 50,519 square miles, or 
32,332,160 acres, of which somewhat more than one half is 
under cultivation for agricultural purposes. 

3. Its present population is about four millions, of whom 
one fourth are of foreign birth, chiefly from Ireland, Germany, 
and England. It is divided into sixty counties and about nine 
hundred and fifty towns and cities. Its principal cities, in the 
order of their population respectively, are New York, Brooklyn, 
Buffalo, Albany, Rochester, Troy, Syracuse, Utica, Oswego, 
Poughkeepsie, Auburn, Schenectady, Hudson, and Binghamton. 
The capital is at Albany, on the west bank of the Hudson. 

4. The chief rivers of the State are the Hudson, Mohawk, 
Delaware, Genesee, Oswego, and Susquehannah, with the St. 



Boundaries. — Extent. — Population. — Chief cities. — Rivers. 



8 ISTRODUCTlOy. 

Lawrence on the north and the Niagara on the wett It poa* 
■eMOB a aea-coast from the Atlantic on its soutbeaaterly border 
alon^ Stiiten and Long Island of 24 G milcH, a lako-ooast of 
352 milcH, and 281 luilcs of navijj^ablo riveru. 

5. Itj* principal lakes, exchisivo of Lakes Erio» Ontario, and 
Champlain, are LakcH (teor^o on the ciuit ; Cayuga, Seneca, 
Canandai^ua, Crooke<i, and C'lmutau*|iiu on the went ; and Skane- 
atelcH, Oneida, and Otaego in the centre and Houth. The great 
catunict of Nijigara, and the (MMiesee FalU at lUxhcHter, the 
I*orta;^M', Ta-nton, Ta;;hkanic, Kaatonikill, and Cohoes FjUIk, fonn 
prominent portion* of the Hcenerv. 

6. The Alleghany Mountains enter the south and aoutheaat- 
eni jMirts of the State in two drntuict i from New Jersey and 
I'> 'vania, fonnin;; the Ilighliuidn, the Sli r^ .;._ :nk, Cattiikill, 
and li(.l<} r^ • r;; MouuLainH, and in the n '^If i!i uid northcust- 
eni |«irli4 of the State Uie Adir n: •. .1 ::i untaiua con- 
stitute a branch of the great AfjiWucluan HVBtcnL 

7. There are acvenil im|iortunt minenU and medicinal springs 
in the interior of the State, the chief of which arc those at 
Ballston, Sarat4>ga, Hichfield, Clifton, and Sharon, the extensive 
■aline deposits at Symcuse and Salina, from which from seven 
to ten millions of bushels of salt are annually manufactured, 
and various |>etroIeum and gas s in the western |x>rtiou of 
the State. 

8. Among the most important public works arc Uie enl!ir;:r(| 
Erie and Champlain Caniils, with their nuniemus Irxks .-md 
aquoilucts, ci^imectiug Ijike Kne with the waters of the liudt><»n 
and I^ke Ch:i * !i, with eleven tributary canals in different 
sections of the M«ite ; the Croton Aque<luct for the supply of 
water to the city of New York, extending over n dintaoce of 
forty miles from the CVjton Hiver in W' ' nter County, and 
spanning the Harlem by the nuignifioent iii;;n Bridgt*, built of 
stone; 1,450 feet in length, 114 feet alxivo tide-water, and with 
fourteen piers var}ing from fifty to eighty feet in heigiit ; and 
the Niagara and Lcwiston Suspension Bridges. 

9. The geologiciU features of the State preaont a aeries of 



Lnkc5, — Falls. — Mountains. — Mineral, modieinal, and salt springv ^> 
Public works. 



INTRODUCTION. 9 

rocks older than the coal formation, and terminating in the 
lowest member of that deposit, near the Pennsylvania line. 
They consist of the unstratified crystalline or primary, the 
stratified non-fossiliferons, and the older secondary fossiliferous 
rocks. Red sandstone occurs in the southern portions bordering 
on New Jersey ; the great metamorphic belt passes along the 
eastern line ; gi'anite, with abundance of iron ore and limestone, 
is found in the northern and northeastern sections of the State, 
and marble in large quantities in the southeastern. 

10. The climate and soil of the State are eminently favor- 
able to the cultivation of the various grasses, wheat, oats, Indian 
corn, rye, garden vegetables, flowers, and fruit of every descrip- 
tion indigenous to the northern temperate regions. The vast 
forests in the northern section afford nearly every variety of 
timber ; and the numerous lakes and rivers fiu-nish an ample 
supply of fish. 



Geological features. — Climate, soil, and productions. 




ri-nioT). 



ryDiAX occrPAXcr. — Ti/K iroqvois, or fivk 

XATfrfVS. 



1. LoNo beforo the white man made hi« appoanmce, the ter- 
ritory now constituting the State of New York was occupied by 
rovinjj trilxw of Indians, enfrafrcd in continual and bloody warn 
with each other and with neighboring? tribes, and obtaining a 
subfiistenco mainly by hunting, fishing, and predator}' incur- 
sions. 

2. One portion of thorn, known as the Lkxxi Lknape, or 
AiXJONQUiNs, occupitxi the southeastern portion of the State, 
chiefly oo the banks of the Delaware River ; another, and far 



The AIf;onquiiu or Dclawam. 



INDIAN OCCUPANCY. \\ 

the most numerous, known as the Iroquois, occupied the entire 
region between the Hudson River and Lakes Erie and Ontario. 
A portion of the Mohegan tribes, including the Pequods, were 
found upon Long Island ; and the Manhattans upon the island 
of that name, now constituting the city of New York, and the 
lower portions of Westchester County bordering on the Hudson. 

3. The Iroquois were originally separate tribes or nations, con- 
sisting of the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Sen- 
ecas. In consequence of the perpetual inroads made upon them 
by the Algonquins or Delawares, the Adiroudacks, Hurons, Eries, 
and Ottawas of Canada, these tribes, probably as early as the 
middle of the sixteenth century, formed themselves into a league 
or confederacy, since known as the Five Nations ; expelled the 
Adirondacks from their hunting-grounds in Canada, defeated the 
Hurons and the Ottawas, extirpated the Eries, humbled the 
Delawares, and carried the terror of their arms as far west as 
the Mississippi River and southerly to the Gulf of Mexico. 

4. The Iroquois Confederacy was the most celebrated and 
powerful of all the Indian leagues on the continent ; and in its 
leading features strongly resembled the Confederation of States 
long afterwards established. Each tribe was independent of all 
the others, except so far as related to the general purposes 
and object of the league. The head-quarters of this formidable 
body were established on the banks of the Onondaga Lake, near 
the site of the present city of Syracuse ; and here annually, or 
as often as the common interest required, its councils were held. 

5. Hither, summoned by trusty and faithful messengers, came 
the sachems and leading warriors of the various tribes from the 
banks of the Hudson and Mohawk and the shores of the Onta- 
rio, Erie, Oneida, Cayuga, Seneca, and Onondaga Lakes, to con- 
sult in solemn conclave upon the general welfare, to smoke the 
pipe of peace, or to dig up the tomahawk and hatchet, and plan 
the savage war-path against the common enemy. 

6. Here, from time to time were heard the eloquent and spirit- 
stirring appeals of the Atotarho, or presiding officer, of the sage 



Mohegans. — Manhattans. — The Five Nations, — their origin, confed- 
eracy, conquests. — Character and objects of the confederacy. — Its chiefs, 
sachems, and orators. 



12 FI/:sT PERIOD. 

Hiawatha, the fierce and storniy Thatan'okxaga of the Mo- 
hawks, the noble and solitary Lwan of the « ui, the elo- 

quent Kkd Jacket of the SenetiiA, the chivalrouB Skkxaxdoaii 
of the Oncida^ and the bmve c;aranoula of the < ri^nia, 

with others whoso daring exploita and trie<i wisdom and sa^iicity 
entitknl them to the conlidence and r«pini of the confwlenicy. 

7. Here, too, came the accrcditod repreHcntativcs of the " Tor- 
toise" the - IJeur- and the " Wolf tribes of the resi>ective na- 
tions, to mmgle their counaeU with those of their brethren : — 

" n r MiiMiMippi the Illinois >hrnnk 

\\ ,. I . .. . 

HB wan tivn on the bank ; 

Oi. ..... p ... , . . j^ 

Whcnibrh.m|of - e£ale- 

^"^'»»«" 1 in hi. trrrrn .m. r, ' 

Winn i\w loui ui iIkt IUae »uniprd hu carpel of flowen." 

Strkct'* FroiUemae. 

^ ^'' • • I ^' y A. 1 its immo<liate orijrin to the noce«ity 
of combinui- Its f..nvH for the protection or o of the sop- 

arato triU>s cm, ^ it, npii„„t u.^ j^cTpettml iuis:u.lt« and in- 

roads of its enemies. Three <.f the wi»efit and most venerated 
chiefs, — Atotariio. nftor whom the presiding sachems were 
nnmc<l, Tckiaxawfttaii. and IIaii toiiwoit-hah, were rvptnlc<! ns 

***' I f^ntl fo^ln(k^^ and revered as possessed of pn 

natinal vy 

9. The tr IS of the Iroquois concerning these jrrcat 
chiefs are ex. . interesting and n.mantic. Toganawctuh 
is descril>e.l as a young miui of remarkable lieauty and unknnw n 
origin. After the formation of the c«mfedcracy he pr 1 
its final dissolution by the"Whifo Throata.** — a people of 
whose . • -^co they hud nov.r hranl. but for whose C4»rtain ad- 
vent tl. frbed until their foam were rcali7x^l by the fi. 
ment of ti»o proph< 

10. Togjinawetah, luiving uttere<l his solemn and n .us 
warning of doom from the •' Palo Facea," siidtlenlv di 1 
and wa^ Rt>en no more. Hah yoh-wout-hah soon ^erwunlh 
ccnde<l to heaven in the presence of the assembled multitu<I,. 
"amidst burets of the sweetest melodv, in a snow-white cm 



The T -":.-« P - «nd Wo!f Trih«.-Tbe ftmaden of tbs cooM. 
srscj. — i l],c Iruquois. 



THE IROQUOIS, OR FIVE NATIONS. 13 

suddenly shot down from the sky, rising higher and higher until 
he melted away in the upper distance." Atotarho alone re- 
mained to place himself at the head of the confederacy on the 
banks of the Onondaga Lake, to govern and instruct his people, 
and transmit his name and authority to a long line of successors. 

11. It was the belief of this primitive and simple people 
that when, after death, they reached the "happy hunting- 
grounds" the Great Spirit would provide for them the most 
delicious fruits known to their native forests, — chiefly the 
strawberry, which, as fast as consumed, would be eternally and 
unfailingly renewed. When one of their number is dying, with 
that calm and placid stoicism characteristic of the race, those 
around him are accustomed to say, " He is scenting the straw- 
berry of the Great Spirit ! " 

12. Having in 1655 accomplished the subjugation of the Hu- 
rons and Algonquins in Canada and the vicinity of Lake Huron, 
these indomitable and fiery warriors attacked and conquered, 
two years later, the Miamis and Ottawas of Michigan. In the 
beginning of the ensuing century they prosecuted their con- 
quests as far south as the waters of the Cape Fear River in 
North Carolina, and at a subsequent period nearly exterminated 
the Cherokees and Catawbas in South Carolina, Georgia, Ala- 
bama, and Tennessee. 

13. In 1714 they were joined by the Tuscaroras of North 
Carolina, and from thenceforth assumed the title of the Six 
Nations. They uniformly adhered to the British interests, or 
*' Corlear " as they termed that nation, against " Yonondio," or 
the French ) and on the revolt of the Americans in the Revolu- 
tionary struggle inflicted the most dire calamities on their for- 
mer friends at Wyoming in Pennsylvania, and at Cherry Valley 
and the Mohawk settlements in New York. 

14. At the period of the first settlement of New York, the 
aggregate number of this confederacy amounted to about forty 
thousand. Not more than seven thousand remain in existence, 
and of these a small remnant only is now to be found in the 
State. 



The strawberry of the Great Spirit. — Conquests of the Iroquois. — Ac- 
cession of the Tuscaroras. - Fidelity to the English. — Comparative num- 
bers. 




ii,u-^', i. 1 iuciuue oi 



SECOM) ri:iM(M>. 

DISCOVER! KS ASD SHTTLH.\f HSTS.— THE DUTCH 

GO VKRSMKXTS. 



1594. 



CflAPTKK I. 

DmcorruT or mi Hri>«o?i Rivrr. — Ftii«T SErrutiiEjrT or the 
pMoriKCK or Nkw Nbthkmla^da. 

1. TnK first Kiimpcftn« who liuidod on tho soil of New York 
were prolwMy the crew of a French tomI un^h^r the c*«m- 
nianrl of Jons dk Vf.rraziaxo, a Florentine, in the senice 
of Fmncis I. of Fmnce. From the joumaU of the voya^ pre- 
served by him, it appears that alw>ut the middle of March, 1 
he arrived on the Ameriean coa«t in North t'arnlina, from whenc< . 
after pn>ce«1inj; south an far as « i, he sailed northwanl t4> 

the latitude of 41', where he entered a harltor, which, fnmi his 

John de VcrrmzMno. 



DISCOVERIES AND SETTLEMENTS. 15 

description, was probably that of New York. He seems to have 
remained there about fifteen days, visited by the Indians, and 
trafficking with them. 

2. After an interval of nearly a century, Samuel Cham- 
plain, a French navigator, on the 4th of July, 1609, while 
descending the St. Lawrence River and exploring its tributaries, 
discovered the lake which bears his name. A few days subse- 
quently, uniting his forces with the Hurons, Algonquins, and 
other Indian tribes in the vicinity, he enabled them by the use 
of fire-arms, hitherto unknown to the natives, to obtain a deci- 
sive victory over their hereditary enemies, the Iroquois. 

3. Early in 1609, Henry Hudson, an English navigator, after 
the failure of two expeditions in the employ of a company of 
London merchants for the discovery of a nearer passage to 
Asia, offered his services to the Dutch East India Company in 
Holland ; and on the 4th of April set sail for China in the yacht 
Half Moon, with his son, and a crew composed of English and 
Dutch sailors. After several ineff'ectual attempts to accom- 
plish his object, he entered Delaware Bay in August, and on 
the 3d of September found a safe anchorage at Sandy Hook. 

4. On the succeeding day he proceeded up the- present New 
York Bay along the Jersey coast, sending from time to time his 
boats on shore, and receiving the visits of the natives, who 
came on board in great numbers, clad in loose furs, singing 
their wild songs, and in the most friendly manner offering to 
traffic with the strangers in exchange for pipes, tobacco, maize, 
beans, and oysters. For several days this mutual interchange of 
friendly civilities was continued ; and on the 12th of September 
Hudson entered through the Narrows the river which bears his 
name, and sailed up its broad channel as far as the present site 
of Manhattanville. 

5. On the 13th and 14th, passing the present site of Yonkers, 
he proceeded up as far as the Highlands, anchoring in the neigh- 
borhood of West Point ; and on the evening of the 1 7th landed 
just above the present site of Hudson, where on the ensuing day 
he had a pleasant interview with the natives. On the 1 9th he 

Samuel Champlain. — Henry Hudson. — His employment by the Dutch 
East India Company. — Entrance into New York Bay. — Intercourse Avith 
the Indians. — Discovery of the river. 



le SECOyn PERIOD. 

raaohed the present site of Kinderhook, from whence, afW 
having sent a small boat up tho river to a point a little above 
Albany, ho commenced on the 23d his rctimi voyage. 

6. burinj^ his trip up the river ho was frequently visited by the 
Indians who came in coUHiderahlo nuiulieni on their boata, and 
manifested the rnont friendly disposition. On his return, how- 
ever, leveral attempta were made a little l»clow tho Hi^'hlanda, 
by tho mitivea, to attack his crew, and in tho efl'ort to repulse 
them some ten or twelve were killed. On tho 4th of OctoU'r ho 
aet sail for Kun)pc, and in the ensuing year engaged in another 
voyage fi»r the discover)' of the northwest posaage to Asia, in which, 
near tho straita in HritiMh .\morica which now liear his name, he 
was abandoned by hia mi»' crew and |>criMhe<l misorubly. 

7. Stimuh\tc<l by the favoralilo accounts given by 
***^' Hudson on his return to llolluid. another vessel waa 
equipiMMl. during the succec<ling year, for the fur trade with 
the Indian.i on tho lianks of the newly discovcnnl river; and 
this ailventure having pn»ve<l successful, Hk-N'ohick C'huihtia.v- 

HEN and AimiKN Hi.4>CK in 1012 fitte*l out two u ual 

^'"^' shijw for the same puqione, which wore speotiily fol- 
lowed bv thrvo othem under the command of C*aptains DeWitt, 
Volckert^ton. and May. The i»Und «»f Manhattan was matlo the 
chief de|K.t «»f the trade, and ('! iihou reooive<i the apjxiint- 

mcnt of agiMit for tho traffic in furs during the paMsage of tho 
Teesela to ami from Holland. He imme*' sot about tho 

oooatruction of a small fort with a few rutlc buddingH, on tho 
■outheni extremity of the island, thus laying tho hntt founda- 
tions of the future city. 

8. Adrien Block, having hist one of his vcaaels by an 
** accidental fire, set almut the construction of another, 

which ho complete<l in the spring of 1614, and immodiatly 
commenced an active expl«»ration of the neighboring country. 
Pasaing by the upper w:itorH of the F^st Kiver into Long Inland 
Sound, and the outlet of the Hou.satonic River, he asconde<l the 
Connecticut to the head of mivi^iition, — thence retuniing to 



Vormn* np the Ilml^on to Albany. — Rrtum to Europe, — Hi* dmih. 

K\ im from HollamI in the furtrBde. — Adrien Bl««*k. — Koan- 

dation of New York City. 



DUTCH GOVERNMENT. 17 

the Sound, he reached Montauk Point and the present Block 
Island ; then, turning his course eastward, he explored the 
Narragansett Bay, Bhode Island, Nahant Bay, and the inter- 
vening islands, and, leaving his vessel at Cape Cod in charge of 
Cornelis Hendrickson, embarked for Holland in one of the ships 
on its way from Manhattan. 

9. On the 11th of October a charter was granted by the 
States-General, conferring upon the merchants engaged in these 
expeditions the exclusive right of trading in the new territories 
situated between the fortieth and forty-fifth degrees of north 
latitude, for four voyages to be completed within three years ; and 
giving to this entire region the name of New Netherlands. In 
the mean time Cornelissen Jacobsen May had explored the south- 
ern coast of Long Island, visited Delaware Bay, and given his 
name to its northern cape, while Hendrick Christiansen had 
ascended the Mauritius, as the Hudson River was then termed, 
to a point a little below Albany, where he established a fort and 
warehouse on Castle Island, calling it Fort Nassau. Shortly 
afterwards, however, Christiansen was murdered by a young In- 
dian in his employ, and Jacob Eelkins was appointed to succeed 
him as agent. An association of merchants was formed under 
the title of the United New Netherlands Company, and the trade 
in furs with the Indians was vigorously prosecuted. 

10. In the spring of 1617, a solemn council of the 
chiefs and warriors of the several Iroquois tribes, and the 
representatives of the New Netherlands, was held at a place 
called Tawasentha, near the present site of Albany, and a for- 
mal treaty of alliance and peace entered into between them. 
Protected by the provisions of this treaty the trade with the In- 
dians became so flourishing and profitable that on the expiration 
of the charter of the Company in 1618 its renewal was refused 
by the States-General. Permission was, however, given by special 
license for a temporary continuance of their operations. 

11. In 1620 Captain Thomas Dermer, an Englishman 
in the service of Sir Ferdinando Gorges, appeared at 

Exploration and discoveries. — New charter. — Association of merchants. 
— United New Netherlands Company. — Council with the Indian tribes at 
TaAvasentha. — Treaty of alliance. — Progress of the fur-trade. — Refusal 
to renew the charter. — English clainis to the territory. 

2 



18 SECO\D PERIOD. 

M.-itihattan on his yoyage to New EngUnd^ and laid claim 
to the entire territon' occupied by the Dutch tmderB, upon the 
g^und of prior diucovery and <Kcu|Mincy. On the representa- 
tion of his employerM, JiinicM I., the Kn^lish monarch, trrnntcd 
Gorges and his lusnociiites a charter of exclusive ju< n 

over all the territories in America U'twivn the fortieth und 
forty-ci;^'hth {lanillels of latitude, and the Kn^hhli amlianatlur ut 
the Haf^ie wiut directed to rcuiuiuttFate agtiiuHt the intrusion of 
the Dutch occu{jantM. 

12. This rcmonstranoe wa% bowoTer, unbooded ; and 

1621 

in June, lOJl, the States General granted a new charter 
to the Du' \Vi«Mt India t'omiJany,** conferrinj; ujmmi them 

exclusive jur n for a pchod of twenty-<»no years over 

the Province ol" New Netherhuida, with full and ample jx>wcrs 
to trade with the natives from Newfotuidland to the Straits 
of Magellan, to ap|K>int governors suhject to the appn>\*nl 
of the States, to colonize the territory, erect forta, and admin- 
ister justice throughout the entire territory. The executive 
managecaCDt of the asar^ i was intrusted tu a board of 

sineleen directors, one of whom was to bo i by the 

Government and the rem teen by the i'otujAny, dis- 

tributed tlirough five se|jifcratc Chatubers in diflfereut cities of 
Holhind. 

13. The Amsterdam ChamlxT, to which had l>oon spc- 
cially aaaigned the charge of tlic Province of New N eth- 
er! :jt out a vessel under the C' :id of Cornelissen 
' " V as dircM'tor, with thirty fa- . consisting 
cluetly ot Uall«»ona or French Pn»te«tants, with llic view of lay- 
ing a pen: • foundation for the p' d c«»I ^" 
of these 1 '<<'ttlod at Manhattan, otiters itMtk up Uicir 
abode on the Jcreey shore, the Connecticut Kiver, and as far up 
the Mauritius or HudM^n Ui%'er as the present site of Allmny, 
where they built Fort Orange, four miles above Fort Nassau. 
George Jansen de V ' o, with a few Wnlloon fnmiHes, occu- 
pied a portion of Loiig island in the vicinity of Walloon's Hay. 

Charter to Si' F- '■'•"'•pflo Gonrc* snd his ajModates. — The W«t India 
CompsiiT. — C< of New Netherlands. — Comelisaen Jac«>h«en 

Mar the first director. — ScttkoMQU at MAnh«tuui. — Fort Unuige and 
Lonj; Island. 



i 



DISCOVERIES AND SETTLEMENTS. 19 

Reinforced by other accessions to their number, the Manhattan 
settlement in 1625 amounted to some two hundred persons, and 
the work of colonization was fairly commenced. May was suc- 
ceeded in the directorship in 1625 by William Verhulst, who 
remained, however, only for about one year. 



CHAPTER II. 

Administration of Peter Minuit. — Purchase and Settlement 

OF Manhattan Island. 

1. In May, 1626, Peter Minuit arrived at New Neth- 
erlands as Director-General, and immediately effected 

the purchase of the island of Manhattan, of the Indians, for 
goods and trinkets to the value of sixty guilders, or about 
tiveiity-four dollars. An interchange of friendly relations was 
established with the English settlement at Plymouth, and ar- 
rangements for a mutual trade were entered into. In 1628 
a church was organized with fifty communicants, under the 
auspices of Jonas Michaelius, a clergyman from Holland. The 
colony grew apace, and the traffic in furs with the surrounding 
Indian tribes was, for a time, quietly, industriously, and profit- 
ably pursued by the incipient colony. 

2. The germs of future trouble soon, however, began to make 
their appearance. The murder of a Westchester Indian, who 
had visited the settlement for the purpose of trade, by three of 
Minuit's farm servants, had aroused a spirit of revenge which 
awaited only a favorable opportunity for its gratification. Not- 
withstanding the fact that the authorities at Manhattan were 
entirely ignorant of the commission of this rash outrage, and 
disclaimed all participation in it, the native tribes sullenly 
brooded over the unprovoked injury, and patiently bided their 
time for a bloody retribution. 

3. In the mean time, the slow growth of the colony 1629. 

Peter Minuit. — Purchase of Manhattan Island. — Establishment of 
friendly relations with the En.o-lish colonists at Plymouth. — Organization 
of a church. — Murder of a Westchester Indian. 



SECOyO PEIiluD. 

inthicwl tlio Gcnonil, on the reoommcmlation t«f the 

A»»«mhly of >ineieen. to adopt an ortiinance gnuitiuj? to any 
menilicr of the < ny wh«> HhouKl within four yeani estAb- 

lUh II colonv i»f tiftv i>' • - • ^ ' inivo of chiUircn inuItT fif\c«n 
yeara of ago, the priviltvt' of with the title of PutnH.)n, 

a tract of huul, outride of the ishuui of Miuiliattnn, Bixtwn uulci* 
in lenj^h on one Hide, or eight nules on each nido of any uavipi- 
blo river, and extending an fur inhuul a* the pr r Hhoidd 

chooiie. 

4. The Bole cowl t that of r ' itum, iiui -1 
upon the . ii *crw H to U»o indiiuiti for liiu 
Unds wlected, the i ui u < '<'r and BchiHihniutter, 
Aod the |«ynient of « duty ol live |)er cvul on all trade carried 
on by them, . vo of that in fur», which the. Company ro- 
■enred to th. • i ■ ^ -. ri- <' iii|<uiy on tlioir part agreed to 
itrenjjthen the fort« at M. m, to pn>tect the ooloniMta 
against all attarkM from the li; '»r Kn;rliHh, and to »• 
thorn with a ^ nt nuniber oi »nt« for an iiuicn- 
nite peritKl of luue. • Th:^ the Iii-Jii luiruduction of »1 
into the pn»vinco. 

5. The Company uIho moouragctl th« riiii^'r.it;..n of Individual 
Settleni hy tifferin^ them the ^uit of ajt nxuch land aji they 
could cultivate, with an « ^ ' for ten years; 
piTcludinjj them, however, un uiii iu» iiic tAiiunj under the IV 
tnM>n», from ajiy voice in the piveramcnt of the colony, and 
frT»m the ? ''icturo of any linen, w- " ** n, or otlur 
cloth. The i'.iiroonn were a iipecicfl of Icmuu »<inl«, with full 
powers over their tenants, the * t of all l«»cal oflicera, 
and unrestrirtiMi privilo«^'es <»f hmiiiUi:, i '. and Hshing. 

6. Cndcr thew ' trncta ot laul on each side of 
the Hudson, inclmlin^' ii. * counties of Allwny and Hcn< 
aelacr. were He<Mire<l l»v Kuian \ an Kensselacr, a director of tlio 
Company, umler the title of Uensselaerwyck ; ami another di- 
rector, Michael Pauw, aj ^ -i.itctl Statcn l»lan<l and a large 
tract in New Jersey, uiciuuiufC the present Jersey City and 
Hobokcn, to which he gave the name of Pavonia. A larp» |»«»r- 



GranU of trrriionr to Patmon« snd other settkrm. — Introdoction of •!•• 
rery. — The RcnsacUonrvck Pairtwiu. 



DUTCH GOVERNMENT. 21 

tion of the manorial estate conferred upon Van Rensselaer still 
remains in the possession of his descendants, and the descend- 
ants and successors of the original tenants, held by them under 
nominal rent charges. 

7. The settlement at Manhattan in the mean while continued 
in a prosperous condition ; its internal and foreign commerce was 
steadily increasing ; a large vessel of eight hundred tons was 
built and despatched to Holland ; settlements on the Brook- 
lyn shore and in the interior of Long Island were springing up ; 
and immigrants of every shade of religious faith, attracted by the 
liberal inducements offered by the Dutch Government and by 
the free toleration of their theological opinions, were flocking 
to the gettlements. 

8. A controversy having arisen between the Company 
and the Patroons, originating in the mterference of the 
latter in the fur-trade, from all participation in which they were 
excluded by the terms of their charter, Minuit, who was sus- 
pected of favoring their ]3retensions, was in 1632 recalled. The 
ship in which he had embarked for Holland having been detained 
on her return voyage by the English authorities at Plymouth 
as an illegal trafficker in English goods, a correspondence ensued 
between the representatives of the two governments in reference 
to their respective claims to the title of the New Netherlands. 

9. On the one hand, the Dutch relied upon the discoveries of 
Hudson ; the subsequent immediate occupation of the territory 
by themselves, ratified and confirmed by charter ; the establish- 
ment of forts and garrisons for its protection ; the purchase by 
them of the land from the natives, and the failure of the Eng- 
lish to occupy any portion of the territory claimed. The latter 
relied upon the prior discovery of Cabot, and the patent to the 
Plymouth Company granted by James I., covering the territory 
in question, — ignoring and denying the validity of any title 
procured from the Indians, who had themselves a mere posses- 
sory claim, — and offering to permit the continued occupation 
of the province by its present colonists, with a full guaranty 
of all their rights of property and person, on condition of the 
transfer of their allegiance to the English Crown. 



Progress of the colony at Manhattan. — Controversy between the Com- 
pany anfl Patroons. — Recall of Minuit. — English claims. 



22 SECOyO PERIOD. 



10. A definitive settlement of the conUufWIj WftS, however, 
deferred to a future period, nnd the TesMl releuied. Mmuit 
Bulniequently ri'tunKnl to Auierica during the adminiKtrutiou of 
Governor Kiefl, aiul, under the uuHpici'S of Queen Chrintina of 
Sweden, luiil the foundation of a Swedish colony on the D< \ ^ 
ware Uiver bj the erection of a fort, which ho named after hm 
royal {latroiMMy where, in 1G41, he died and wae buried. 



1633. 



CI! \ PTKR ITT. 

ADMiXltTaATtOM Ot Woi'TCK VaX TwiLLkB. 

1. I.v April, 1C33, the nem- Director-CJenenU, WorxER Van 
Twii.LKii, arrived at Manhattan with a Mmall military* force 

» 

and a S{jQuiiili vemcl captured on the voyage from IIol- 
IaxuL Among the I •'"•-•M^cni were Kveuaki'I'm U^xiAHDi'd, a cler- 
gyman, and Adam i. v.vim*k.\, the |.i..i>.«T achoohniutter of the 

colony. Van Twiller had pri'viouhly .. .: 1 the province with a 
▼iew to the selection of landtf under the {jutroon ^nTints, and liad 
married a niece of Killian Van Kcnsiielaer. Wjth the exception 
of the influence, and knowled^ of the country, thus «.<.t .ii». .! 
he seems to have been thoroughly incompetent t" »?*<• 
of the duties im{K>«ed up<>n him. 

2. The fort at New Amstcrxlum, which had been oommenced 
several years before, was completed, a (niard-houae and bar* 
racks for the sttliliers orecte<l, and a church and parKmage 
built, under his direction. An angry controversy aoon spninfif 
up U'twei'n lio^mrdus aiul the (iovernor, in which the citiiens 
gemnilly took |«irt, growing out of his atlministration of the 
affjiirs of the prt)vince. Bitter recriminations passed lietween 
the jiarties, — the anathcmiui of the Church were hurled ufion 
the devoted head of the Director, who, in turn, denounced his 
reverend antagonist, — and tlic strife was prolonged to the clo«ie 
of his brief administration. 



Swedish settlement on the Delaware by Minuit. — Erection of Fort Chri»- 
tins. — Dtalb of Minuit. — Governor Van 'l " ' ararter. — 

Conin>T«-iT with Bopinlus. — Adam Kuelai.^^... - ..i.„.„»ing of ibc 
fiift. — Krvctiun of a churUi. 



DISCOVERIES AND SETTLEMENTS. 23 

3. In the mean time Jacob Eelkins, a former agent of the 
Company at Fort Orange, who had been dismissed from their 
employ, arrived at Manhattan as supercargo of an EngUsh ves- 
sel engaged in the fur-trade. The Governor refused to per- 
mit the vessel to proceed without the production of a suitable 
license from the Company. Eelkins declined exhibiting his 
commission, and claimed the right to trade with the natives as 
an Englishman to whom the territory legitimately belonged, 
and after displaying the English flag, and firing a salute in 
honor of the English king, proceeded up the river in defiance 
of the guns of the fort. 

4. Van T wilier immediately summoned a meeting of the 
citizens at the square before the fort, now the Bowling Green, 
and after collecting their sentiments, and indulging in much 
bravado and festive display of loyalty to the government of the 
Prince of Orange, despatched an armed force to Fort Orange, 
whither Eelkins had already repaired, erected a tent, and was 
engaged in trading with the natives. The soldiers proceeded, on 
their arrival, to demolish his tent, take possession of his wares, 
and reconduct his vessel to Fort Amsterdam, whence it was sent 
to sea, with a warning henceforth to cease from intermeddling 
with the Dutch trade. 

5. The Governor, soon after entering npon the duties of his 
administration, had despatched Jacob Van Corlaer and other 
agents to purchase of the Pequod Indians a tract of land on 
the Connecticut River, near the present site of Hartford. Upon 
this tract they built and fortified a redoubt, which they named 
Fort Good Hope. Against this invasion of their territory the 
Plymouth and Massachusetts colonies, through Governor Win- 
throp, sent an earnest remonstrance to Van Twiller, to which 
he returned a courteous reply, proposing a reference of their 
respective claims to their several governments. 

6. The Plymouth colonists, however, having secured from the 
Indians a small tract in the vicinity of the fort, sent Lieutenant 
William Holmes with a sufficient force to take possession and 
commence an English settlement on the present site of Windsor. 



Jacob Eelkins's visit to Manhattan. — Defiance of the authority of the 
Governor. — Van Twiller's proceedings. — Difficulties between the Dutch 
and English colonists on the Connecticut. 



24 yO PKIiJOD. 

\an Corhur ni- V . r i illy cndeavoivti to oppoM their prcvrcsn, 
And Van Twtiicr bc-nt a force of Hoventy ^ ' ' «^ to dinl*-' • 
tbeoL The Dutch comniaiidfr, however, intm. ' by tli. ir 

bold bearing', withdrew without any attempt ai iiieir cipul 
si - 

4. \ an Twiller met with belter ku< - «-^ in * \\^ .i.-...' :i l«:iii<l 
of Eiiglwh intniderK fn.>tu the Vtryium •"! 'tiy. \y\u>, ). ' ' 

(!• liohneH, luul taken poywion ot Fort > i nc 

Govcruor pn»in[»tly dcsp*' ' i an anucd force to ."^-lua H\' 
which •' * ' :vd the occujxuujt and brought them bock as \ 
onerH tu i uit Anuitcnhun, whence they were retumod to Toiut 

C '* "T just in toaaon it> * -opt a fiarty of their ctmnt^ 1 

luu: • : ri them, i ma cnerjjetic display of Bpiril h 

to tiic I'fuwucv tlio undisputed control of the ^>outh u 
colony. 

8. AAer purcluuDn^ on hit own account, m c^u 
j,,.....: ... .. :.i. 1 . . ^, Y^^ Corlacr and othem, a tract of 

fi(\ccn •' t;iiHl, now ooti--' ■• • the flouriiilr" - 

townot i i ' ' '^'•rwanl-. a. mum the mlandii i 

known an i>' -. imk a uml iCiindnirH. than rendei 

\v T the \»..ini. :•-' ' • ' ill the pn»vince, he invoi««->i 

htiif' <!. with cliar. i.-m ^ • — '•••'nity.in a 

quarrel witli Viui l*ai •■ • i .n- .».i' "^ of h\n 

Council. The latter h.»-i «■ " d of bin r i in re 

turn had been deprived of ii. v, rrmov*.. ;.. (»ftice. 

and wnt a pr'- r to Holland ••.. .. . I- -»-"" "f ,-...#. 

9. Van Dill. r. m m:ide -■ -♦•■••■ ;, j.;» - ..;..i..... t»f the in 
efficiency and c«'n ..j.iion of Ui. i.-.. iii«ir, that the Statenden 
end ur^e*! the AntHtenltun i'luunlicr to rei-jill him and re"-' "♦•• 

his councillor, with which request the ( 'liamlier. after m.>: 

lay, reluctantly complie<l. Prior, horn ever, to bin recall, the 
Went India ('«»iii|>any had efTccted the purcliase of Pnvonia fn-m 
its {Mitroon, which c«»nferred ujnm them pojwession t»f and jui. 
diction over the Jerney sliore ami Staten Island. The {latroon- 
ship of Kemwelaerwyck was therefore the only pi-"'* Hv nf tbia 
dcacriptiou remaining in the !>»..v;i>.>o. 



Invasion of Fort Nsssso and iu nrconqaast. ^> Hupiiritr unci irrjihh of 
Van Twillrr. — Contn>vor»r with Van I)inckU;;m. — Recall of Van Twil 
\tv. — l*urvha4e of Pavonia. 



DUTCH GOVERNMENT, 25 

CHAPTER IV. 
Administration of Wilhelm Kieft. 

1. On the 28th of March, 1638, Wilhelm Kieft ar- 

1 CQQ 

rived at Manhattan as the successor of Van T wilier in 
the government of the colony. He was a man of considerable 
energy of character, — irritable, capricious, and injudicious, and 
wholly deficient in that firmness, prudence, and cool discrimina- 
tion so necessary to his difficult position. His previous career 
as a merchant at Amsterdam, and subsequently in the employ 
of the Government, had been stained w^ith dishonor and criminal 
rapacity, and his administration of the new duties devolved upon 
him was a stormy and disastrous one ; marked by the assump- 
tion of dictatorial powers, and distinguished chiefly for rashness, 
improvidence, and sanguinary contests with the surrounding 
Indian tribes. 

2. Immediately on his accession he surrounded himself with 
a Council entirely devoted to his own interests, and obedient in 
all things to his will. With characteristic activity he set about 
the reform of a variety of abuses w^hich had crept into the pub- 
lic service under the lax administration of his predecessor. He 
prepared a code of laws and regulations strictly prohibiting all 
illegal traffic under heavy penalties, establishing rigid sanitary 
observances, and repressing all forms of vice and immorality. 

3. Pie soon became involved in difficulties with the Swedish 
colonies on the Delaware and the English settlements on the 
Connecticut. His remonstrances, however, against the intrusion 
of the Swedish settlers on territory claimed by the Dutch, were 
disregarded both by the colonists and the States-General, who 
were unwilling to offend so powerful a neighbor ; and he was re- 
luctantly compelled to turn his attention in another direction. 

4. A new charter of privileges was conferred upon the 
colonies by the Company : restricting the patroon rights 

of occupancy to four miles of frontage on navigable rivers and 
eight miles inland ; granting two hundred acres of land to every 

Wilhelm Kieft. — His character and antecedents. — Reform of abuses. — 
Code of laws and regulations. — Difficulties with the Swedish colonists — 
New charter of privileges. 



26 SECOXD PERIOD. 

six settlcni who should transport tlicmHclvcs to the colony ftt their 
own cxjicnsc ; jriving tlie right of chouaing their own magis- 
trutcit to uU villiiges and cities thereafter to bo e«tAl>Iihhe<i ; re- 
linquishing the monojxily of the Inditui tnidc in exclmnge for a 
moderate duty ; and nmking a ld>end |»rovision for individual 
uetlleni. The Kefonued Dutch religi«»n was reco^niwxl aa the 
estahlislieil faith of the jirxivince, with full toleration, however, 
to all other sects ; and no discrimination, except an oath of 
fi^ltv to the Dutch (joverument, was |)ennitti-d to exist Itetwccu 
foreigners aiul other citixciuk 

5. Attracletl bv tliesc inductui. i t . tii i of the 

pn*viuctj rapidly incrcastxl, liolh frtnii Holland and the New 
flnghuid and Virginia colonies. The cultivation of tobocco 
was iiitriKluoed ; new fniit trees and other : i»ir I'lants and 

ganlen vnn t.iMcs were domesticated ; and the i; d affaira 

of the I 1 were pro«i|ien>us Iteyomlanv t»r««vi«»us ex|>erience. 

Large tracts t»f land on I^»ng Inland in t: y of the pres- 

ent Newtown, purchascil for the (\»mpiiny by the (lovemor, 
were brought mlo cultivation ; a settlement was commenoe<l at 
Graveseiid by Anthony Janson |{a|n*lye, the lm»ther of the 
founder of the WalltMui ( olony ; and other purchases were made 
of valuable farms in the vicinitv t»f the citv. 

r». In the spring of 1G40 Kieft, also in lM»hfdf of the 
CNmifKinv. rtin'hase<l of the Indians all the rei. .4 ter- 

ritory ctun| thr rrfjvnt limits of Kingit and ^»uitiui 

Counties, ainl IV Vt r established another colony at 

Tapimi. Tb< d in the ensuing year by a colony 

on the Ha- ick Kiver, by Vander Voorst, and on all that 

part of Staten Inland not already in po^wowsion of I>c Vries, by 
Cornelius MelyiL A few scattered its had l>een eflecto<l 

on the eastern |iart of I>tng Islaiul, at Southampton. South- 
old ami Clrecnfjort, under Knglish granta, and a few yean later 
the towns of t^ast Hampton and Setauket, were ! I under 

the same authority, without any attempts at disturl .1. • > u 
the part of the Dutch liovcmraent, 

7. An exjHjtlition was during this year fitted out at New 
Hatcd by George Lomlwrton, a merchant, with fifty families, 

Internal pro«pentj of the colonr. — Pf O gitsi of wttkownls on Long 

Island. 



DISCOVERIES AND SETTLEMENTS. 27 

for a settlement on the shores of the Delaware. Touchino- at 
Manhattan, the emigrants were forbidden by Kieft to prose- 
cute further their enterprise. They, how^ever, disregarded his 
threats, and proceeded on their voyage. Kieft, indignant at 
this defiance of his authority, organized a force for their sum- 
mary expulsion ; but, being prevented by Indian disturbances at 
home, deferred the enterprise until the following year, when 
W' ith the aid of the Swedes he succeeded in breaking up the set- 
tlement and sending back the English with their goods to New 
Haven. Lamberton, who persisted in trading at the South 
River, w^as arrested and compelled to pay full duties on his 
cargo. Demands for satisfaction on the part of the English col- 
onies, and continued annoyances ensuing from the refusal on 
the part of Kieft, induced the latter finally to proclaim an ordi- 
nance of non-intercourse with the Connecticut colony. 

8. Negotiations were now opened for the purchase of the ter- 
ritory in the neighborhood of the Dutch post on the Connecticut 
River; but all terms being refused, both parties appealed to their 
respective governments for redress. The pendency of the civil 
war in England, however, prevented a settlement of the difficul- 
ties ; and the English colonists continued for some time longer 
to harass and disturb their Dutch neighbors. 

9. In July, 1640, Kieft sent au armed force against 
the Raritan Indians, belonging to the Delaware tribe in 
New Jersey, for an alleged robbery on Staten Island, by a portion 
of the tribe. Although these Indians w^ere entirely innocent of 
the ofienco, ten of their warriors were ruthlessly slaughtered and 
their crops and other property destroyed. This severe chastise- 
ment soon provoked a bloody retaliation. The plantation of De 
Vries, on Staten Island, was attacked, his dwelling burned, and 
four of his planters killed. Other outrages speedily followed, and 
the foundations were thus laid for a vindictive contest, which 
for a time threatened the extermination of the infant colony. 

10. Satisfaction having been refused by the chiefs of the 

1 ^4.1 

offending tribes, a general declaration of war against the 
savages was resolved upon. Previously, however, to engaging 
in active hostilities, Kieft deemed it prudent to convoke a 

Lamberton's expedition to the Delaware. — Proceedinp:s of Kieft. — Attack 
upon the Raritan Indians. — Burning of De Vries' plantation. — Indian War. 



* 1640. 



28 '' SECOyO PEUIOD. 

general council of tho princi|)al citizono, who, on the 'Jstli nf 

Auj^ust, 1G41, noruinatcii a bolect committee of twelve of tl 

number t*) act as their repre«cntutivcji. This eommittee, whiK 

making every pre|>anitiou for the im])eiuliiig coutlicl, exertr*!. 

in conjunction witli tho olhcenj uml li^i-nts of the Comprmv. tlu 

utniost c-HortA for the {Mraceful Mcttlement of the contr 

1 1. Kieft, however, HtKvx'eiletl, in tho commenc< ;,.» .i « f 

' the ensuing ycjir, in « .iu;^ a reluctant ctnisent from 

tho representative Couufi! for tho iuime<iiate adoption of vi«j;i>r 

UU8 iii»*asnreH for the - -^ment t»f the InduuiH. lie at once 

de«p 1 a iMirty of eighty men up tho river, with onion* t«.> 

oxtenniiuito hy hre anil Bwonl the n«-i'jhlK»rin;i WojJtchoHtor 

tril*e, a nien»Uri»f which, in n a munler commit 

twenty yeani U-r»n» by Minuit'H farm hervantn, hiul hluin in <<■! 1 

UimmI an un< \\^ citizen, and wiut pr d and ji. 

by tho trilte. Tho Indiann, however, on loiU-mn^ their danp^r. 

•ued for |K'ace, promimn;: t«» d«'liver up tho munlen'r. 

12. IVuilin;; tl««'H«» iKv two other munlerB were C' :.i 

mitte<l by tho I: . and >i\ wajt pmmptly demandi I 

by tho (Jovenior. In the mexm time a ban<l of Moliawkn nuule :i 

deHcent u{Mn tho river IndtiUiH, and, after killing and aiptur 

'\\\\^ nmny of their numl»er, C4>m|>elled them to flee for HUi*e<jr t" 

tho l)utch at Manhattan. More than a thoiiwind of the luipl(^-< 

fujjitives encan)|M.-d on the Jemoy alioro at I'avonin. while tin- 

n^nitluo cnj*i«e<I the river, and ap}x»ih^l ♦*> tho c n ft»r pro 

tection a;;ainMt their enraj»e»l and n . A fiivor- 

ablo oj»|Kirtunity waa thu* «; i f«»r th«» n'wtonitijm of fi 

T' iH between the . ;iud the i. ; but it was fnis- 

trate<l by an act of wanton and din^n^iceful tn'ncher)' and cruelty 

uniMUulleled in the annals of civiliz4><I humanity. 

13. The faction in New Amtttenlajn in favor of a war 
1643 

of extenuination against the Indians, Hup;Mirte<l by tho 

influence of tho Governor, sncoeeded in ol* ^ fn»m that 

ofticer full authority to avail themselves of the helpU^Hs condi 

tion of the fu^'itives thus thn)wn ujkhi their h« ty, by a jfen- 

cral and indiscriminate massacre. In defiance of the most ur- 

Formiuion of a rcpivM'ntfttivp cominincc. — Y »n •piin'.t Wmt- 

chotir In<Iinn«. — ' ' <>f the >' ' V* upoa the nrcr tribe*. — MsiMcra 
of the Indian* n« V . und CV i iiuok. 



DUTCH GOVERNMENT. 29 

gent remonstrances of the leading citizens, at midnight on the 
25th of February, 1643, this inhuman and revolting outrage 
was perpetrated under the immediate sanction of the Gov- 
ernor, and eighty of the Indians at Pavonia — men, women, 
and children, surprised in the midst of their unsuspecting 
slumbers — were despatched by the muskets of their enemies or 
driven into the river to perish. A similar massacre was at the 
same time perpetrated at Corker's Hook, upon the confiding 
and imconscious savages there. 

14. These atrocious deeds reflect indelible infamy upon the 
memory of Kieft, who was solely responsible for their commis- 
sion. Well had it been if the swift retribution for their enor- 
mity could have fallen only upon him and his inhuman ad- 
visers and instruments ! All the neighboring tribes immediately 
concentrated their forces for avenging this outrage upon their 
brethren, and openly proclaimed an unrelenting war against 
the devoted colonists. They took possession of the swamps and 
morasses of the island, lay in wait to shoot down the settlers at 
their work, to drive off their cattle, burn their dwellings, cap- 
tiu'e their wives and children, and devastate their possessions. 
Universal terror prevailed. The white settlements on every 
hand were attacked, and the colonists were reduced to despair. 

15. Overtures of peace, preferred by Kieft, who too late 
began to repent his rashness, were scornfully rejected. Bitter 
recriminations passed between his cowardly advisers and him- 
self ; and the persecuted colonists heaped the most contume- 
lious reproaches upon his head for his agency in bringing about 
the deplorable condition in which they found themselves. They 
even threatened his deposition and arrest as a prisoner, and 
talked of sending him in chains to Holland. De Yries alone, 
who had thrown the whole weight of his influence in opposition to 
the infatuated policy of the Governor, retained the confidence as 
well of the colonists as their maddened opponents, the savages. 

16. Early in the spring, however, a white flag approached 
the fort, and through De Vries and Olfertson, who alone dared 
to confront the Indians who bore it, an interview took place 
with the sachems of the surrounding tribes, followed by a 
treaty providing for a temporary truce. In August the war 

Indian hostilities, — Indignation against the Governor. — De Vries. 



30 SECOXD PERIOD. 

was ftgnin renewed, a new representative Council 8umraone<l l»y 
the Governor, an alliunce cntorcil into with tlie Li)Ug Ulaiul 
tribes, and enei^'tic prc|»anuit»na mado for < ve military 

operation.s, undor the charge of Captain John I uUciliilL 

17. The Indian^i on thoir |iiirt renewed their savap? at l^icks 
upon all the nei{j;hl*»rin^ uitllenK'ntJi. TI»o ontlyintj farms 
were nithlessly mu-kiHl ; the phintation of tlie ccU'hnitotl Anno 
flntchinM4in on the VjubX Uiver nrar WAX C*atc hunie<l, and lier- 
self, and her wh'»h» family, with one exception, nmnliTed ; 
and throu;:hout \Vi'Mtche«ter and the adjoining; KcttlcmcntH, on 
Long IhIiuuI anii the Jersey alutrc, indiscriminate phuiderM and 
massacres wenj of daily wviirrenoc. TIkj »»Io phico of safety 
ft»r tlie hnnttxl otUnnntM waa the fort at New AniMterdam, whcro 
sonjo two ur throe hiindrvd defcnwIerK, with thoir mives and 
children, were ci»Uocte«l to resint the conhtant atttu-Ks of fifteen 
hundnil armetl and miuldnu'*! Siivn^^vjt iK; Vries, findinj^ him- 
self niinitl, and heIple^H, notwitlixtandin^ his p\>ut intliienoo 
with the Indians, to avert tlie aiLuaitoun re»ult*« of Kiefl*« reck- 
less follv, alxuidoned tlie colonv an<l returned to ilolhuid. 

IS. The aid of the New Haven colonv was in thin 
ciniT'cnrv unHiiccemfullv in\*oke<l hv the Touncil ; and 
aAcr an e:init>Mt and prejuiin^ ap|Knl to Hiilland for aKaistanco 
in this their hour of s«»rr dwtrcjwi, the c< ' - stnt out several 

cx{M.tlitionH aj^iiuKt the IikIuui vill.i^eii. \ nc diief of one of tho 
friendly I»n^ Itdand tril»es at Hei d having fallen uiuler 

su- I of trcnelKT)- to the whiic.% Kjcft, without any clTort 

to UMt rtain the tnith of the cliiir^'v'. de^pjitche*! a force of one 
hundre<l and twentv njen with onleni to extcnuinate the trilKJ. 
Tliesc <»nleni were prrnuptly carrietl into effect with cinnim- 
stances of revolt in;; Uirlmrity ami cruelty. I'pwanls of a hun- 
dre<l warriors were !*lau;:htere«l, and two prisoners, conducted to 
Fort Amstenlam, put to detith with excniciatin;: tortures. 

19. I'nderhill was then (»rdercd with a hundrvtl and fifty 
men on an exixnlition apiinst the Connecticut Indians at 
Greenwich, who were surrounded at midni;;ht, while celehrat- 
ing one of their anniud f *'•-!. and put to tho sword. 

TnicT with the In«!i.tn< — Renewal of tho wnr. — Militnn* prrpanitkMnt 
of the colontMA. — I)er».*t«iion«» of the Indifinn. — Monlcr of Anne Hutrh- 
in*on. — Helplc** condition of the — Mn«*nrrr of Long I»)and 

Indian*. — MnMacrc at (irccnwich of Loinu^tiiut Indians. 



DISCOVERIES AND SETTLEMENTS. 31 

Nearly two hundred of their number were killed, and the residue 
forced into their wigwams, which were immediately fired, and 
their hapless occupants either burned or shot in their efforts to 
escape. Eight only, of six hundred men, women, and children, 
escaped the fearful slaughter and conflagration. This san- 
guinary battle virtually terminated the war, although desul- 
tory hostilities continued down to the fall of the succeed- 
ing year, 1645, when a final treaty of peace and amity 
was concluded at the Bowling Green, and a day of gen- 
eral thanksgiving proclaimed. 

20. At this period scarcely a hundred men were left on 
Manhattan Island, and such of the neighboring colonists as 
survived the calamities of the war had been reduced to pov- 
erty and destitution. Cattle, farms, provisions, and dwellings 
were destroyed, and everything bore tokens of a long, perilous, 
and deadly struggle with an infuriated and savage foe. A re- 
inforcement of Dutch soldiers, forwarded by Stuyvesant, then 
Governor of Curagoa, were billeted upon the citizens, and the 
expense of their clothing supplied by the imposition of an excise 
tax. Indignant at the enforcement of this additional burden, 
the Council demanded the recall of Kieft, denounced him as 
the author of the war, and petitioned for the allowance to the 
citizens of a voice in the municipal government. 

21. Their memorial met with a favorable reception. 
Kieft was ordered home, new regulations for the gov- 
ernment of the province were made, and its administration 
confided to new hands. On his outward voyage, the late Gov- 
ernor perished by shipwreck, leaving behind him a melancholy 
record of abused power and perverted opportunities of useful- 
ness. With him were two of the members of the Council, un- 
der sentence of banishment by the new Director on charges 
preferred by Kieft, and Dominie Bogardus, who was on his way 
to answer similar charges preferred by the new Council. The 
two former were rescued and subsequently returned with honor 
to the colony. Bogardus and eighty others, including the Gov- 
ernor, went down with the ill-fated vessel. 

Treaty of peace. — General thanksfjiving. — Reduced condition of the col- 
ony. — Arrival of reinforcements. — Excise tax. — Indignation of the citi- 
zens. — Recall and death of Kieft. 



J. 



j«k#t?^jf.2k 





A tii«!<-ri!.Ttii 111 tCLfi. 



I IIAPTKU \. 
AnMixiSTRATiox or rcTKX Sti-ttebaxt. 



1 

1647 



Teter Stl'yvesaxt, the newly apjjointcd Director, \f^ 
po MOft ion uf the goremmeut on the 11 th of May, 1* 
On bin arrival he waa ^n'cctccl vith a hcnrty and < 
dial rooeption hy the citixena, to which he responded by r , 
rocal profcstionn of interest and repird. He had fur scvcnd 
yearn l>een in the C'omr nnv'n service as Directiir of their colony 
at Cum<;oa, and was :^niished for his enerjry nn*! hravery. 

Huvin;; lost a leg in an ntttirk on the Portupiese - nent at 
Sti MartinX ho had U^n t'Mip.-*! to return to Kuro|»e fur sur- 
gical aid, whence. Htill retaining his former com mi ^-i on. he was 
sent to the charge of the Province of New Nethei. 

2. ImnuHliately on his acccKsion hcorganif^l a repr tivo 

Council of nine memlwrs fmm a list of i a pn 1 to 

him by the iuhahitants of the province, and gave hi^ t to 



p. 

•CUtauxj Cuuutu. 



t. — His roccpdon, sntoccdenis, and character. — Rrpr»> 



DUTCH GOVERNMENT. 33 

various important provisions for the regulation of trade and 
commerce. By a conciliatory and just treatment of the Indians 
so recently in revolt he speedily gained their affection and good- 
will, and by his judicious measures for their mutual protection 
restored peace and harmony among all classes. 

3. To adjust the controversy which was still pending between 
the Dutch and English governments respecting the territory 
claimed by each on Long Island and at the mouth of the Con- 
necticut River, Governor Stuyvesant assented to the appointment 
of two arbitrators on each side, who assigned to New England 
all that portion of Long Island comprising the present Suffolk 
County, and all that portion of Connecticut situate east of a 
specified line nowhere less than ten miles east of the Mauritius 
or Hudson River. The Dutch remained in possession of their 
territory at Fort Good Hope. 

4. The terms of this arrangement were very unacceptable to 
the people of the Manhattan colony, who loudly complained of 
the Governor's course, accusing him of partiality to the English 
interest and injustice to their own. They demanded, moreover, 
an independent municipal government, such as had been bestowed 
upon the neighboring settlement at Brooklyn, the principal pro- 
visions of which were copied from those of the cities of Holland. 

5. On the 4th of April, 1652, this petition was acceded 
to by the Company, and a burgher government estab- 
lished at Manhattan, consisting of a fiscal agent, to be appointed 
by the Company, and two burgomasters and five inferior magis- 
trates elected by the people, who were to form a municipal 
court of justice, subject to the appellate jurisdiction of the 
Supreme Court of the Province. 

6. Constant intrigues, in the mean while, were in pro- 
gress between the New England' colonies and the English 
settlers on Long Island, covertly fostered by the English Gov- 
ernment under Cromwell, having for their ultimate object the 
conquest of the Dutch province. Stuyvesant was accused of 

Regulations for trade and commerce. — Treatment of the Indians. — 
Adjustment of boundaries between the Ncav England and Dutch colonies. 
— Dissatisfaction of the people. — Establishment of burgher governments 
at Manhattan and Brooklyn. — Intrigues of the English for the conquest of 
the province. 

3 



34 SECOND PERIOD. 

having plotted %v»tii the Narm'^ranscii liuiians for the cicstniction 
of the Enghhh. This char^'c \v:u4 inili^naully denied, and was 
wholly un8Uj)jK>rted by i*ro<»f ; and the IJenenU Court of MasKa- 
chiwetts disc««unti'nanee<l all cirortB to involve the two eolonics 
in war. (roinwell, however, wa« induced to fit out an expedi- 
tion apiinst New Anistenhun, when the restoration of |)eacc be- 
tween Kn^land and Holland put an end, for the time l>eing, to 
all furtlur prixeedinj^n* in this direction. 

7. With u view, however, to comiteracting the growing in- 
fluence of the Kn^rlish settlers, increiunxl municiivd iK>wer8 were 
l)C8towed u{X)n the several corporations on I»ng and Manhat 
tan Islands, and the demands of the inhabitants for a nioru 
cxtende<l |iartici* * m in the p>venjment acce<lf«l to by Stuyve- 
Bant, notwithstaniiui^ tlie remonHtniuees of the Company, nn<l 
e%'cn in op|M>sition to his own judpuent 

8. In the ensuing vear the liovemor, under the direc 
tion of the Coni|inny, reconquered the Sweilish fi»rts on 
the Dehiwan? fri>m the Swe<leH wlu) ha<l cj»ptun*d thein, luid tho 
I)utch (loveniment an^in reHunie<l |>ojvsehsion of the territory, 
with hononible tenns to the inhabitants. 

y. During the alisencc of the troo|)« on this expedition the 
BlumtK*rin<^ hostility of the Indians opiinst tho settlers apiin 
broke out, A woman l»elon|jing to one of the neighl)oring triltes 
having, a few years previous, been detecte<l in stealing, was shot 
by one of the inhabitants of the city ; and tho warriors of tho 
trilw availed themselves of the departure of the tnwpa to re- 
Tenge tho munler. On the morning of the ITith of Septemlier 
two thousand arme<l savages hinde<i at Fort Amsterdam lieforo 
daybreak, and spread themselves over the town, on pretence of 
Bcarrhing for si^me missing Indiana. 

10. The inhabitants, however, suspecting their object, treated 
them with great civility and succcedecl in persuading them to 
leave town in the evening and cross over to (lovemor's Islaml. 
They soon returned in force, shot the niunierer of the woman 
an«l tomahawked another citizen, when they were again forceil 
back to their canoes by the startled inhabitants. Crossing 
the Hudson, they made a descent upon Pavonia and Holxfken, 

Extrnsion of municipal |»o»rr» — Komnqticst of the SwcdUh forts on 
the IX'laware. — Kcnewsl of Indian hostilities. 



ADMINISTRATION OF PETER STUYVESANT. 35 

slaughtering men, women, and children, and burning houses, 
barns, and crops. Thence they proceeded to Staten Island, 
where they repeated their merciless and bloody work. One 
hundred of the settlers were killed, and a still greater number 
captured, and twenty-eight farms and crops were laid waste. 
The Long Island settlements were next threatened, and general 
consternation prevailed. 

11. An express was immediately forwarded to the Governor, 
who at once returned to the city. Instead, however, of pro- 
ceeding to the adoption of violent measures with his formidable 
and victorious foes, he prudently resorted to conciliatory coun- 
sels, kind words, and liberal presents, while at the same time 
displaying the utmost energy in placing the city on a footing 
of military defence. Pacified by his gifts and overawed by his 
display of force, the Indians soon relinquished their prisoners 
and entered into negotiations for peace. 

12. With the restoration of peace, both at home and 
abroad, the prosperity of the colony rapidly and steadily 
advanced. The population of New Amsterdam consisted at 
this period of about one thousand inhabitants, occupying one 
hundred and twenty dwelling-houses. The average price of 
the best city lots was fifty dollars, and the average yearly 
rent of the best houses about fourteen. There being but one 
public school in the city, and the Governor having declined 
authorizing the establishment of a private institution, applica- 
tion was made to the Company for a Latin teacher by several 
of the burghers who were desirous of giving a classical educa- 
tion to their children, alleging in support of their request 
that by this means " New Amsterdam might finally attain to an 
academv, the credit of which would redound to the honor of the 
Company." The request was complied with, and a flourishing 
Latin school established by Dr. Alexander Carolus Curtius, who 
was soon afterwards succeeded by Dominie ^gidius Luyck, the 
private family tutor of Governor Stuyvesant. 

13. The continued encroachments of the New England 
colonies and the long and vexatious controversies respect- 
Attack upon Pavonia, Hoboken, and Long and Manhattan Islands. — 

Prudent conduct of the Governor. — Restoration of peace. — Flourishing 
condition of the colony. 



3G SECOM) pEiiion. 

inp tho territorial Vjoundaries fixwi by conflicting prants of the 
two governments, occupitnl a largo hhare of the time and atten- 
tion of the (Jovenior. In 1 OiU ( harlcs 1 1, of Kngland granted 
by letters patent to bin brother, the Duke of York, all tho 
territory from the Connecticut Iii%er to the shoren of the Dela- 
ware, embracing the entire p— ••^••ions held by the Dutch. The 
Duke imnv ' • '• "it an i.;.»,..sh Hquadron under the com- 
mand of C ..'•..' . iv- ..ard Nicolla, to enforce his claim. The 
fleet anchoretl in tho liay in AugnHt, and demand, d tlip sur- 
render of tho city and govenirnent. 

14. Governor Stuyvesant peremptorily refu«e<l to capittdate, 
and for several weckn reiu8to<l the jwpular clamor for surrender. 
Tho evident weaknejw, however, of tho fortificatioiiK, and the 
strength of the dominant Unglish faction, finally in<luce<l him 
reluctantly to yield ; and on the M of S^^Titrml.rr K)r»4, the 
Knj^lish flag was ^loistcd up»»n the public i Kjirly in 
Octolnrr the gt»venm)ent of the c«.lony was tnii. 1 to .Nirolls, 
and tho namcH <»f New Netherlands and New Amsterdam wore 
clianged to " New York," and that of Fort Orange to *' Alltany.** 
Stuyveaant himself, after a brief visit to Holland, returned to 
the city where so large a iH>rtion of his active life liatl l»een spent, 
took possession of his farm, now tmvcrsc*! by tho ** IJt»wer}*," and 
died in August, 1G82. His remains still re|>ose in the vaults of 
St. Marks I'hurch, in Tenth Stn-ot, 

15. S«¥>n after the sum»nder of the colony to the KnHi*«h. all 
that portion of New Netherlaiuls now count it uting th« of 
New Jersey was conveyed bv the Duke of York to l^ml llerkelev 
mnd Sir (leorge Carteret, and a separate pfroprietnr^• irr»vemnu'nt 
established. The settlements on the Delaware j- •■d to tho 
Now York c«dony until their pun-hase by William Ponn in iri>J. 
when thoy were annexwl to Pennsylvania; and Ix)ng Inland 
was purchased by tho Duke of York, in disrotr^ril of the claims 
of tho Connecticut col«»nr. and l>eoame n; 1 to New York, 
where it h.-uj since remaij. . un Island hail Ix'cn purchase<l 
by the Dutch Comjiany in lOGl fn>m its owners, and several 
small settlements on that territory and on Ixing Island eflectod. 

ron!mvrn»5c« ' ' !jin««*. — Gnint nf fw' -' * • \hf T>nkp of 

Vork. — Arri%ft. . .... • ' and •urrrmlrr of : my to Colonel 

KicolU. — DcAih of (. - vc»ant. — Translbror New .Irrwr. — 

The Delaware settlements. — riirchsae and annexatkm of Long I»lsnd. 




New York City Hall in 1679, cor. Pearl Street and Coentijs Slip. 

THIRD PERIOD. 

ENGLISH GO YERNMENT TO THE PERIOD OF THE 
FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 



CHAPTER I. 
Administration of Governors Nicolls, Lovelace, and Andros. 

1. Colonel Nicolls, soon after entering upon his 
official duties as Governor, remodelled the city charter, 
changing the form of the municipal government by placing the 
executive power in the hands of a mayor, aldermen, and sheriff, 
to be appointed by the Governor. The mayoralty was conferred 
upon Thomas Willett, one of the first Plymouth emigrants. 
The power to enact laws and impose taxes was retained in the 
hands of the Governor and his Council. 



Governor Nicolls. — New city charter. 



38 THIRD PERIOD. 

2. The titles of the owners of property throughout the pror- 
ince under the Dutch Government were formally eonhnued by 
new pnmta, involvinj; a heavy burden of ex|x.'n»o up«»n the pro- 
prietors. TluH, toj^-ther with the iucreju*e of taxation eonae- 
quent upon the or^pmijuition of a new government, the Ktrength- 
cuing ai»d repair <»f the fortii, and pre|»aration8 for defence 
against an apprehended invasion from Holland, rendere<l tho 

new adminisfnition somewhat unrn'Titilur ; and in 1GG8, 
ISM 

Governor > ..- asked for and obi . . i his reciUl. Hav- 
ing eng»||fcd in a subiie(|ueut war with Ifcllnnd. hr wa.s klDtHi 
in A imvul engagviueut in 1072. 

3. He was m oceeded in the government of th ; t a :; • i v 
Colonel Fha.ncih Lovei.acb, whoso adminintnition pn>ved even 
more unacccptablo tliau that of his pretlei cssor. To the re> 
monstnuices of the people and their protest afn^tnst taxation 
without representation he turned a deaf ear, denouncing their 
complaints its scundidous and seditious, — fit only to l>e I turned 
by the hands of the oommon hangman. " 1'he {Miiple,** he in- 
forme<l them, " should have lilterty fur no thought but how to 
pay their taxes.** 

4. War having been dcclarwl in \Cu2 bv Kngland 

1672 * 

agniuMt Holland, the Dutch pmmptly availe<l themHilves 

of the opjxirtunity to regain their hist ponncHMions in America. 
A »i]uadn>n of five nhi|M wiis de8|itttched in the summer of 
Di73 for tho reomqui'st of the province and city ci 
New Y«)rk. I>)velace, without making any suitable prep- 
arations for defence, plartHl the fort in the hands of Captain 
John .Manning, and pnK^>edcd to Albany for the settlement of 
Bome Indiiui ditliculties in that quarter. 

6. On receiving infommtion of the approach of the fleet, he (( 
returned to the city, and set aliout vigonnis measures for resist' 
ance, which, however, were njieedily alnndoned, and he again left || 

the city. On the 2l»th of July the S4|uadron made its appear- 
ance off Sandy Hook, and on the succeotling day anchored at 
Staten Island. The (Jovenior was again sent for, and .Manning 
hastily made every preparation for defence. Not Iwiug seconded 

(' ' ' Ti • •■•*.«. — 'Rcc.'ill nml ilitilh of" NicoTtn — Kr«mi« 

I.' — ii.- - ;;..._. '•''^. — War lictwiTn KnulanU and IloUsad. 

— • '.ch of a »<|uadrun : rtconquc*! of New York. 






ENGLISH GOVERNMENT. 39 

in these efforts by the inhabitants, either of the city or province, 
resistance was apparently hopeless. 

6. The city having been summoned to surrender \yy the offi- 
cers of the squadron, a heavy cannonade was opened against the 
fort without being returned ; and Captain Anthony Colve, with 
six hundred men, soon effected a landing, and ranged themselves 
before the fort preparatory to taking possession of the city. 
Manning attempted a parley, and ineffectually endeavored to 
open a negotiation with the commander ; but in the absence of 
any authority for definite proposals, he was compelled to sur- 
render the fort, with permission to the garrison to retire with the 
honors of war. The city was again in possession of the Dutch 
Government under the name of New Orange ; several of the 
English soldiers were sent to Holland as prisoners ; and Lovelace 
returned with the squadron to Europe, leaving Captain Anthony 
Colve in command of the province. 

7. Manning was subsequently, on its recovery, tried and con- 
victed by court-martial for cowardice and treachery, and adjudged 
to have his sword broken over his head by the executioner in front 
of the City Hall, and to be incapacitated from thereafter holding 
any ciyil or military office in the gift of the Crown. Lovelace was 
also severely reprimanded by the English Government, and his 
estate confiscated. There seems no sufficient evidence asrainst 
Manning to warrant so ignominious a punishment ; but the Eng- 
lish were smarting under a humiliating defeat, and were little 
disposed to mete oat strict justice to those who in any way had 
contributed to its infliction. 

8. During the brief administration of Colve the city and its de- 
fences were strengthened and placed upon an effective military 
footing, in apprehension of an effort for its recapture by the 
English. The claims of the Dutch to the entire province were 
reasserted and vigorously maintained. On the 9th of February, 
1674, however, the territory was restored to the English 

by the provisions of a treaty with the States-General, and 

in November subsequently delivered up to their possession. 

A new patent for the territory, confirming the previous grant 

Inefficiency of Lovelace and Manning;. — Recapture of the city. — Re- 
turn of Lovelace to Europe. — Proceedings against Manning and Lovelace. 
— Administration of Colve. — Restoration of the province to the English. 






40 Tuinn pF.nimi 

to the Duke of York, wtuj issued, and Major Edjicn*d A.kdwm 
aj'jxiiiitetl Govenior. 

y. Thus tonninatctl, at the cloae of half ft c^ntur}' from ita 
oommcncenu'nt, the p»vfniiuent of the I>uuh over the city and 
province built up chiefly hy their efforts and nmintnined by 
their cnre. Whatever umy hare l»een tlie defecta of their ad- 
miniMtmti(»n of itu intonml ond extenml affain*. inen«ure<l hy 
the more h»>enil Btandard of pt » tiont events, the mH-ial wjd 
domestic virtui»« of ita primilm uihahitanta. their indonuta- 
Ide iKiticnce and * ^- jiernevenuico under the most dimxiuni:- 
in;: trial.H and Buiunu;?*, and their Rtrict honeuty and into'jr»t\. 
niniple mi4nner«, ami l)UnudtiM» hve«. have uinpientionahly ex- 
erti-<l a |»«»«erftd influence ujn^n the chanicter luid civil and 
jiohtical inntitutionA of the State which they f»»tuide<l. 

10. (jiovcmor A' '-^ " pumur*! in hia p>venunent the Kimo 

arhitrar\' and oj i courno. under the directions of tluj 

Duke, on had chan. ti nze*! the adniiniHtnition of his prwiecca- 
aorsy — repretmin;: ever)' effort on the | •-• -f the |»eople for a 

■harv in tlie pul»lic councils, — and a\ a hinm-lf of ev»rv 

pretext for the i* "<• of his power, lie atl<'nipte<l the qxu u 

sion of his jun^l.. t.-n to the Connecticut Kiver on thf east, 
but, finding; the |»eople of that pn»vn)ce prefMinNi to diHputo 
his claims by furce, olmndoneil the undertaking'. He however 
Buw'ciMiotl in pi • •• ' a settl»»ment and establishintr » f<»rt in 
Maine, l>etween i.>. i .nolisrot and Kenneltec Uivers, and in mid- 
inp to his territories .Martha'n VineyanI and Nantucket, and a 

amall tract l>ctw 'he DeUware nn<l Schuylkill. 

11. In I -^ he was summoned to Kn^rland to answer 
' charp^s preferred by the pn>priet4»rs of the New Jersey 
Government, of interference with their privile^jes. On his ac- 
quittal he ajrnin n'tunieci, with renewe«i instructions for tho 
continuance of his opprenMive measures. The n-hi?*tance of tho 
people, however, and the counsels of the celebratetl William Penn, 
induced the Duke to m<idify his pretensions ; and in 10^3 
*^*** Andros was recalled, and Colonel Thomas !>«»•« as tK\>- 
pointed OS his «ucce«8<»r. ^'th in^tnirtions to c»»nvoke a popu- 
lar Assembly. 

GrnrrsI ch«nMieri<»ttC3« of the Dutch norrmmpnt. — ArWtrsnr nK««nn« 
of Andmn — AcrcMion of trmtonr. — Charpr* by New J*T»rT proprieton. 
Recall of Androt. — Thuauu Dongsn. — Conce»*ioo* of tlx' Duke. 



ENGLISH GOVERNMENT. 41 



1683. 



CHAPTER II. 
Administration of Thomas Dongan. 

1. In accordance with his instructions, Governor Don- 
gan, immediately upon his arrival, directed the call of a 
representative Assembly, which, consisting of ten councillors 
and seventeen representatives chosen by the people, and pre- 
sided over by himself, convened in the city of New York, on 
the 17th of October, 1683. The first act of this body was to 
frame a Charter of Liberties, vesting the supreme legislative 
power in the Governor, Council, and people, in general assem- 
bly, conferring the right of suffrage on the freeholders without 
restraint, and establishing trial by jury. 

2. The imposition of an}^ tax without consent of the Assem- 
bly, the quartering of soldiers or seamen on the inhabitants 
against their will, the declaration of martial law, or the ques- 
tioning of any person professing faith in God, by Jesus Christ, 
for any differences of opinion in religious matters, were prohib- 
ited. Aissemblies were directed to be convened at least trienni- 
ally, and the delegates were apportioned according to population, 
for which purpose the province was divided into twelve counties, 
with twenty-one representatives, which number was afterwards 
increased to twenty-seven. 

3. The Duke of York halving succeeded to the Eng- 
lish throne under the title of James II., many arbitrary 
exactions were again imposed upon the colony, — representa- 
tive governments discouraged, freedom of the press prohibited, 
and a general feeling of insecurity induced. Strong efforts 
were made for the introduction of the Roman Catholic religion 
against the convictions of tlie people. All the offices of govern- 
ment, inclucling the highest, were filled by Catholics. Governor 
Donaan was instructed to favor the introduction of Catholic 
priests among the Iroquois tribe of Indians ; but apprehensive 
of the ambitious designs of the French for the extension of their 



Governor Dongan. — Representative Assembly. — Charter of Liberties. 
— Accession of James II. -^-Arbitrary measures of the King. 



4S TlllPd) PERIOD. 

influcnco in this quarter, he effectually resisted the adoption of 
this p«)licy. These tribes continueil faithful to the Kuj^lish alli- 
ance, and successfully defended themselves o^inst the invasions 
of the French. 

1. hiinn^' the past twenty years, the conftnl. mt. .1 Iroquois 
trilicH, availinj; thenisilves of their know le<l|,'e of the use of fire- 
arms, acquire<l fn)ni their intimacy with the Dutch colonists, had 
renewe<l their hrrtditury warfare with the Hurons, defeated luid 
extirjttted the Krien, si>uth of the lake of that name, and ob- 
tAine<l a conjjileto a«tx'ndency over all the hostile tribes from the 
Kenne))ec to the MisMissippi and MinMiuri Hivers. 

5. They had, mortH>ver, hehi at Ixiy the French f<»rce8 in 
Canada ; thrice re|M-lle<i with seven' Imw the in\ of Clmm- 
pliin, and in their turn af 1 the torritor}* ul New Franc* . 
Thou;;h <lefeate<i and r 1 in this undertaking', they con- 
tinue<l their hostilities m the face of the utmost |Miwer of tlf 
French authorities, — disregarding all efforts at conciliation, 
and declining the nuiliation even of the Jesuit missionaries, with 
whom they were on the m<mt friendly terma, — until they ' ' l 
obtainetl an umpiestioned su|ieriority, and had eren luid siege u> J 

QtU'ln-c. 

6. The Knglwh colonies, m the mean time, had Hln'U^^'thened 
and confirmed their alliance with the triltes, notwitliHtJUiding 
the explicit instnictions forwanled from the home government 
to prestTve frientlly relations with the French. In 10H4 a coun- 
cil of chiefs and warri«»rs met the governors of New York and 
Virginia at Alliany, where the ** pif* of peace " was smoked, 
the hatchet {H'nnanently buried, and the chain of concord 
brightene<l and its links fimdy riveted. The arrival of a naea- 
senger from De la liarre, the French govenior of Canada, had 
only the etfect of confinning their resolutiona, and stimulating' 
their hostilitv to their ancient enemies. 

7. De la Uarre, imme<liately on his return, set in motion a 
formidable army of six hundn^d French s<»ldiers, four hundreil 
ludian.s and seven hmidretl Canadians, with the view of attack- 
ing the English fort on the southern shore of Lake Ontario ; 

Adhesion of the lrtKjuoi< to the Kn(;lt»h. and rmUlancr to the Knptich. — 
ConquMta of the Imt^uui*. — Alliancv with the English. — Council al Al- 
bany. — Invssioo of tiw French. 



ADMINISTRATION OF THOMAS DONG AN. 43 

but, after crossing the lake and disembarking his troops, he 
found himself compelled by the unhealthiness of the season 
and his fruitless efforts to encounter his foes to offer terms of 
peace, which were haughtily accepted, and he was allowed to 
depart, leaving his allies at the mercy of their implacable ene- 
mies. 

8. He was succeeded in his command in the ensuing year by 
Denonville, with a reinforcement of French troops. The at- 
tempt to establish a fort at Niagara was resisted by Governor 
Dongan, who claimed the entire territoiy south of the Great 
Lakes as belonging to England, and was rendered futile by the 
active and watchful hostility of the confederated tribes. 

9. In 1687, Lamberville, the missionary to the Onon- 
dagas, was employed by the French to decoy the Iroquois 
chiefs into Fort Ontario, where they were arrested, put in irons, 
sent to Quebec, and from thence to Europe, and chained to the 
oars in the galleys at Marseilles. Lamberville, as the uncon- 
scious instrument of this treachery, was protected by the chiefs 
of the tribe from the vengeance of the wamors. 

10. In the mean time the Seneca country was overrun by 
the French troops without serious resistance, and a fort erected 
at Niagara. The Senecas and the Onondagas in their turn 
made a descent upon the fort ; and peace was finally proposed, 
through the mediation of Dongan, on condition of the ran- 
som of the French prisoners, the restoration of the spoils taken 
from the Senecas, and the destruction of the fort. These prop- 
ositions having been rejected, the Iroquois flew to arms, and 
twelve hundred warriors immediately started for Montreal. 
This display of energy on the part of the tribes secured the ac- 
ceptance of the terms proposed, and the abandonment by the 
French of the entire region south of the Great Lakes. 

11. Governor Dongan, in the mean time, having be- 

^ 11 1 • i- Iboo. 

come obnoxious to the English monarch by his undis- 
guised efforts in favor of the Protestant interests of the prov- 
ince against the intolerant policy of the King, was recalled, and 
Francis Nicholson, the deputy of Sir Edmund Andros, who 

Failure of De la Barre. — Denonville. — Lamberville's treachery. — Fort 
at Niajrara. — Mediation of Dongan. — Abandonment of the Iroquois country 
by the French. — Recall of Dongan and appointment of Nicholson. 



44 rillRO PERIOD. 

\mh\ been coramissionetl as (Jovomor lx>tli of Now Kn^'lanfl ancl 
of New York, assumed, in Auj^iKt, IGf^v**, the temporary cl: 
(»f the gijvonunont. 

12. lutt'lli-'encc was, however, soon received of the 
ilxiicution of Janien II. and the succession to the Eng- 
lish throne of William nnd Mar}', the Prince and Princess of 
()mn;:e. Under these circumstances the authority of Nicholson 
as the rcr fative <»f the depose<! kinjj waj* qucNtioned by a 

l.ir.,'0 |>ortion of the inhal of the city and province ; and 

tlie reM|jective adherents ut lUe late and pn*Hcnt - ^. 

stimulate<l by their ndipous diKM^iMions and their |M>laii-al 
viewH, rnnpnl theoMelvcs into {uirtii'S known as democratic and 
It rntic 

l.». i>n the one hand it was cor " ' t the chanpc of 
pnveniMu'Ut in T ' »ul in no rc»«j»ecl l the cxiKtin;; con- 

dition of atfairtt lu the prv>vince, and tluil the r -nion to 

Andnis by Jaiiirt^ and the dih^pition of hin )M>wer tu Nichidson, 
rcmaino<l tinrt'vokiMl, and in full furco, until the pleasure of tho 
new monarchM should tic known. On the <»ther hand it was 
! iine<l that the entire fr»veniment. includinvT that of tho 

c«.ii»iii. - ^^ ■•, overthntwn by the revolution ; and that, as no in- 
dividual Ma.H invest«'«l with authority in the pn»vinro, tho power 
reverted to the |KH>plc, who mi^ht dcni^niate the prf»|>er persons 
for its exercise until the will of the H«»vereipis should Ik? ex- 
pressed. 

14. Amon;; the pnnci|ial adherfm.s lo liie fonncr of tli< '-«' 
views were the tlovenior himself and most of the w- ' ' ;iii<l 
rntic of the citirrns, including Van Cortlandt, tnc .\layor, 
"^ - nayartl. coniiimiuler of the city militia, Fre<lerick 

1 uiufsc nnd others of the niMnicipa] authorities, and mcmliers 
of the t'ouncil; while the ^Tvat mass of the people, including 
the orticers and memlvrs of the five train-Uinds, nnder the 
cTTimnnd of Colonel llaynnl, were enthusiastic advocates of 
tifinocmtic opinions. Thene views were also countennncetl by 
the inhabitants of Ix>np Island, who deposed their n; •'ntes, 
c'.ose others in their stearl. an<l de»|intched a lar^v wjds of 
inilitin * Vow York to »eizo tho fort. 



Rerolntkm of 1689. — OrgamialioD of parties. ~- Stale of parties. 



ENGLISH GOVERNMENT. 45 

15. The popular party was headed by Jacob Leisler, senior 
captain of the city train-bands, and one of the oldest and 
wealthiest of the inhabitants, a zealous opponent of the Catholic 
faith, and a man of great energy and determination of charac- 
ter. At first he declined countenancing the attempt to gain 
possession of the fort, where the public funds were deposited ; 
but this enterprise having been achieved without resistance, he 
repaired thither with forty-seven men, and was cordially wel- 
comed by the citizens as their leader. Nicholson in the mean 
while had returned to England. 



CHAPTER III. 

Administration of Jacob Leisler and Governors Sloughter 

AND Fletcher. 

1. Leisler, on entering upon his assumed powers as cap- 
tain of the fort in behalf of the new sovereigns, proceed- 
ed at once to strengthen its defences by the erection of a battery 
of six guns beyond its walls. This was the origin of the pub- 
lic park since known as the " Battery." In the absence of the 
Governor, a Committee of Safety, chosen by the citizens, in- 
vested Leisler with the command of the city and province, while 
the Mayor and other official dignitaries retired to Albany. 

2. In November, Milborne, the son-in-law and private secre- 
tary of the new commander, was despatched to Albany with an 
armed force, to secure the recognition of his authority in the 
northern provinces, as well as to protect them, in the event of 
such recognition, from the threatened assaults of the Indians in 
their neighborhood. This enterprise was, however, fruitless, as 
these provinces declined to sanction his usurpation of power. 

3. A despatch from the Prince of Orange was received in 
December, at the fort, directed to the late Governor, or, in his 
absence, to such person as might be in charge of the government, 
empowering him to take the chief command of the province. 

Jacob Leisler. — The fort and battery. — Committee of Safety. — Op- 
position in the northern portion of the province. — Recognition of the Leisler 
government by William and Mary. 



46 Tumii rFiiioiK 

Under thin authority Ixrlhler pnx-cf<ie<l to the formul orijai; . 
tion of the exet-utive dejwrtim'nt, iliHMoIve<l the Committor of 
Safety, nppoiiito<l u council of ihIvimth, and ajMunicd the entire 
civil and military command of the city and province. 

4. In Fchrimrv. i««'.M), diirini; the war l>ctwcon the 

1690 

Kn^^di^h and the FriMU'h, known in history as ** Kin^; 
"NViIliain'8 War." a jwrty of aonie three hundred Fnnch and 
IndiauM u* I and iMinieil the citv of Schcnectndv on the 

Mohawk, kdU*<l nixty of the ir lUtx, wlio were an»uiie<l nt 

midni;;ht fnun their hhini)H*n^ and took thirty i 1 lie 

immini'nce uf the |H'nl from thrne detidly «• htx of their 

■araf^e enemiiti induciil the . reco^^^iution, hy the northern 

provinccji, of the nuthonty of ix'iftler, who with their OMiHtiUico 
enpi|;iHi with p^»at vijjor in the i" ■» apuiiMt the 1 i 

aud IndiauH. He orpinited and tittixl out the Hmt man-ufuar 
fleet ever «: I from the |»urt of New York, and u 

0(M>()ertttetl with the atithonticM of Mowuici ^ and Coiinei'ti- 

cut in an t. • itnful etfurt fur the : of Montreal and 

Queljec. 

5. At the commei) t of the enRiiin;; year W. '> 
ard I arrivinl fn>m Kni;land with intelligonoo of 

the ap|)ointment of (Vdonel Hkn'ry Si : cr aa (fovenior. and, 

without pHMlucin^ ojiy cre<lentialM of authority. detnande<l the 
•urremler of the f<)rt, whirli wan refuned l»v IxMnler, who, how- 
ever, expreiwetl his reiulineKH to yield the p)vcniment to > •< r 

on his arrival. This event oceumHl in .March, and I^emler mi- 
ni f mcv' , to him forordem. Theno meaaen;: 
were detauuil, and Ii, y waa dei»[intch«*<l to the fort with 
verliftl directions for it* surreiuler, whieh at finit were diaro- 
garded, hut on the mi day complio<l with hy Ixisler, 
who, with MilUime and oihem, were imnn • arre«to<l, and 
imprisone<I, and the two fonner trie*!, convicted, and condemned 
to sutler death under a clmnre of treojion. 

6. Governor SUm^hter lonj; henitnttHl to enforce this sentence 
by issuing his warr.mt for its execution, chiefly on the ^nnound 

Formal awnmptton of \Y - ' anUirmiion. — nnralntr of Scbeoectady. — 
N«v»l cxprflifS-n !i -linst > nnil Montrml. — Arriral of InfoldAby. 

— fjcirrmor > of LciJcr to »ttrrciMlcr Um 

— Armt of LctAlcr wid M»ll»ur .. 



LEISLER, SLOUGHTER, AND FLETCHER. 47 

of its manifest injustice, and the absence of a fair and impartial 
trial. Wiien, however, all attempts to procure his signature 
had proved fruitless, the enemies of Leisler and Milborne took 
advantage of a feast to which the Governor was invited in May, 
to obtain his consent when under the influence of wine, and 
before his recovery from intoxication the prisoners were exe- 
cuted. 

7. In June the treaties between the Iroquois and the inhabi- 
tants of the province were renewed at a council held with the 
chiefs of the confederated tribes at Albany ; a popular Assembly 
was convened by the Governor, and a liberal constitution formed 
under his sanction and approval. On the 2d of August, the life 
and administration of Sloughter were ignominiously brought 
to a sudden close by a severe attack of illness induced by in- 
temperance. 

8. He was succeeded by Benjamin Fletcher, a man 

. . 1692 

of moderate abilities, strong passions, and aristocratic 

tendencies, averse to religious toleration, and opposed to all 
popular concessions. He, however, prudently listened to the 
counsels of Major Schuyler, of Albany, in reference to his treat- 
ment of the Indian difficulties ; and under the leadership of 
that gallant and intrepid officer the English and their faithful 
allies of the Five Nations signally defeated the French in the 
vicinity of Lake Champlain and drove them beyond the St. 
Lawrence. 

9. In 1693 the first printing-press was established in 
the city by William Bradford of Philadelphia, who was 
employed by the city government to print the corporation laws. 
A few years subsequently, as will hereafter be seen, he estab- 
lished the pioneer newspaper of the city, an enterprise which 
proved eminently successful. 

10. Governor Fletcher next addressed himself to a vigorous 
effort for the introduction into the province and city of the Eng- 
lish Church and the English language. Strange as it may seem, 
the majority of the inhabitants still spoke the Dutch language, 

Trial and execution. — Treaties with the Iroquois. — Formation of a lib- 
eral constitution. — Death of Sloughter. — Accession of Benjamin Fletcher. 
— Defeat of the French. — William Bradford establishes the first printing- 
press. 



48 TUUW PEIUDU 

and rogardetl the Dtitch Cluirch ti» tlifo led Church of the 

province. Tht»v were acc*»rdiiiglv naturailv avcr»c to auy cliAiige 
in tlieae re 

11. The Ciovenior, however, saooeotU'il in jmnMirinj; fr«»in the 
Assembly, in ^ iUt, ir»y3, nn urt, the pr- •» of which, 

th«»tj:;h admitting of a more IiUtiiI o»nKtruriuin, were inter- 
prettti by him a>i anthonty for the rwcH^iitiun of the Pn»tet*tant 
K] 't>a(l <»f the I>utch Church an the e«t iit. 

I'ntier thui act Tninty < i waji ereotttl anil « in 

ICUfi, and I for v :» in V ry of the eii 

12. In June, lol»6, Count Krtmtctuic, then ituvcmur> 
• ml of CouAila, <1 an anny near .Montn*ul for 

an exfictlition ai^ntiiutt the In . whoM* anin ^t the 

French liadlietMi * i -i i i\ . i -:!!. c ihtM n i ■ -t -. 1 1 r 

of the province. Hm anny waa c*-:; ;- -'^i of tin 
and such of the Indian triU*« aa were allien of the hi- vtul 

h« .r>' enemieii of the I' -^ With theae f 

m 

cendinl the St. Ijiwrence, o i '• I the caatem wattihoi 
Ontario, a> i the <>Mwep> Kiver, and cncaiu|ie4l u|)on the 

bordem of On- : : x fjike, whence he |ien 1 int*) the wil- 

dernem in search of hiH eneinictt. 

13. Fmdin^ their princi|ial villo^ro deflerte<l. and dib<N' 

no trace of their ft>otMe|M, he retnire<l his iiuirch, only to hnd 

that hJM |)ath hud Itcen waylaid by hi« subtl ' who omtinued 

to hanixM hin pn>''ref« until ho had hnuUv cr«>KHe<l their 

tcrritoricH. In the following year the war lietween Knj^- 

lantl anti Fnince waji tenn 1 by the peace of RvHwick. 

14. At aliout thin !»• . • t j n-zt'd nyirtem of privatcoring 
on the hijjh aeiui Itetwtiu l.un>{M> and A' • i prevaile<i exton- 
8i%*ely, and waa even l»elieve<l to l>c cfmniviti at and en ■ jed 
by the Kurojwan jp»vcru' for the annoyance of ihc coin- 
niereo of their eneniiea. I ijc American coaatii wifTere*! neverclv 
frt>m these depre<lationfi, which WMtn aiwumed the fonn of ! 
with all ita attendant hom»rK. The n ' nt-veHHeU ol .ncw 
York were deHtnne<l within sij^ht <)f the ii;iri»»>r itaelf, axid aliipe 

boldly seized while lying at anchor near the wliarvec 



Charch com — Trinity Charrh. — Invasion of FroniOMe. — 

TcrmioalioD of ku.n^ WUUam't War. — riratkal depredatkMU. 



ENGLISH GOVERNMENT. 49 

15. Repeated and pressing complaints were made to the pro- 
vincial and municipal authorities, and the suppression of this 
iniquitous traffic was loudly demanded. But the provincial and 
municipal authorities were themselves suspected of participating 
directly or indirectly in the profits of these buccaneering expedi- 
tions; and among others the Governor himself was seriously 
miplicated. The English Government found itself compelled to 
resort to vigorous measures for the suppression of these flagrant 
abuses ; and in 1695 Fletcher was recalled, and Earl Bella- 
mont, an Irish peer, appointed in his stead, with instructions to 
rid the seas of their piratical occupants. 



CHAPTER IN. 

Earl of Bellamont, Lord Cornbury, and Lieutenant-Governor 

ixgoldsby. 

1. It was not until 1698, that the Earl of Bellamont, 
who was also subsequently commissioned as Governor of 
Massachusetts, and was distinguished for capacity and integrity, 
assumed his position as the successor of Fletcher. A stock 
company for the suppression of piracy was organized in Eng- 
land under the direct patronage of the King and many of the 
nobility, and an armed vessel fitted out for this purpose and 
placed under the command of the celebrated Captain William 
KiDD, one of the boldest and most successful ship-masters of 
New York. 

2. This vessel, in April, 1696, sailed from Plymouth, England, 
and, after recruiting at New York, proceeded on its course to 
the East Indies and Africa. The commander, however, finding 
his crew favorable to such an enterprise, abandoning his origi- 
nal undertaking, Entered upon a bold and daring career of piracy 
along the coasts of Malabar and Madagascar, returning to New 
York in 1698 with an immense booty, large portions of which 
were concealed on the eastern shores of Long Island. 

3. He then proceeded 02:)enly to Boston, where he was 

Fletcher recalled. — Appointment of Earl Bellamont. — :Earl of Bella- 
mont. — Captain Kidd. 

4 



50 TiiiniJ VF.nioiK 

airettad, by the orders of tho Governor, on a clmnre of pimcy 

and mtinlor, and tninM|)orted to Kugland for trial, otiUvictiHi and 

executed in 17^1. Hih tn^njiurefi, so Ikr as diBcovereil, u '< 

■ecured by lielhunuut, who wajt hinutelf BUKpected, although with 

out a|>)i»rent cauAo, of a Morct participation in hi« nefarious 

enterpriM's. 

4. Lord lkdlaro<int on hin nmvul uttachitl hmiM If :it 
1A99 

onco to the deuuicrutic or Ix'iidenan |Mirty, with wh<>ni he 

wan a great favorite. Iiaving intent(te4l hiniKidf in Kn;:Iand in 
the rerenal of the attainder apiinitt IxmhKt. (Mi the l^th of 
May, 1C99, a new AHitcinlily wan ixmvened, Btnmj^ly democnitic 
in ita eonipoftition, which, after reerivin^ aHNumnceii of his fa- 
Torahlo dMiMMition, voteil him a revenue fur »ix vearH, and |MiKKe<l 
▼i^roiui acta fi»r the Nupprtiuuon of piracy, and for : Mn- 

deuiuity to Stiite utrendenL I'nder the act the faiuuic^ ut i>iK- 
ler and MiIU»n»e were n- * * -d in their fi»rfeited jx' ■ 
Their rvniaiuH were alao uui.i*lfrre«l with j^tit ceremony ai.l 
d' ' • d in the Dutch church in (iurtlen Street, attended hy un 
inm. ' . ..lu-ouriMJ of t - ^ . inchidin^ tlie (Jovem<»r hiinBclf. 

0. Uu the death oi i. .. iinont, which occurriHl aoon after, 
Licutcnant-ljovemor Nnnl;in temporarily Hucceeded to his au- 
thority. Colonel liuyanl, the invetonite enemy and i»er*ecutor 
of IxMaler, and the author of the act under which he wan r< n 
demned and •- **•<!, wn ' -^^df arrest ed. trie*!, and convi< • ' 
for a similar •> in \uii>iti^ the administration of Nanf 

inciting? the «u to relieUion, and other treasonahlc acta. Jii , 

with John Hiii< (iiiirt, another offender, was sentenced to death, 
but reprieved by the (tovemor until the Kin;:'s pleasure should 
be known. On the arrival of r<»nibur>', however, the newly 
appointe<l (Joven^or, ho was releasetl, the I^eislerian IMUtjr din 
countenanced, and their opponents taken into favor. 

C. KnwARD Hri»K, subse<)uently created I/)rd Corn 
niRV, assumed in May, 17(»2, the duties of (lovenior of 
the combined pn.»vincea of New York and New Jersey, tho Lit 
ter having been added to his jurisdiction by surrender of the 

Pulitical Ticwi of IVilamont. — Procecdintni of the Aawmbly. — RrrrrMl 
of atiaimlcn of Ix-i»lcr and MilUtmo. — KcinicrBMBi of their mnaiac — 
Death of IlcIUnioni. — I.i< ; -GoTcmor Nan(kn. — Trial sad ooortctioo 

of Bsvanl. — Arrival of (.*.;...„.>•. 



BELLAMONT, CORNBURY, AND INGOLDSBY. 51 

patent of the proprietors. A revenue of seven years was voted 
him, his salary doubled, and the expenses of his voyage re- 
imbursed by the Assembly, which was devoted to his interests. 
A public dinner was given him, and the freedom of the city 
formally bestowed in a gold box. The members of his suite, the 
soldiers of the garrison, and all citizens unable to purchase their 
freedom, were also made freemen, with the rights of suffrage, of 
trade, and of holding office. 

7. The corporation of the city, having resolved upon the es- 
tablishment of a grammar-school, in the absence of any suit- 
ably qualified teacher in New York directed a petition to 
be forwarded to the Bishop of London, entreating him to for- 
ward them a native-born English teacher, of good learning, 
pious life and conversation, and good temper. Lord Cornbury's 
influence in the matter was urgently but ineffectually requested. 
It was not until 1705 that the school was finally established 
and Andrew Clarke appointed master. 

8. The administration of Lord Cornbury was chiefly distin- 
guished for its intolerance, licentiousness, dishonesty, and mis- 
rule. He engaged, in direct opposition to his instructions from 
the Queen, in a systematic persecution of all religious denomi- 
nations dissenting from the Church of England, plundered 
the public treasury, involved himself in private debts, and 
opposed every effort on the part of the representatives of the 
people for the security of their rights and the growth of free 
institutions. He was finally, in 1708, recalled, through 

the pressure of popular sentiment, and cast into prison by 
his creditors, where he remained until released by the accession 
of his peerage, on the death of his father. John Lord Lovelace 
was appointed his successor, but retained the office a little more 
than a year, when he died, leaving the government in the hands 
of Lieutenant-Governor Ingoldsby. 

9. In 1709, during Queen Anne's War, a military and 
naval force of eighteen hundred men was fitted out in 

the combined colonies of New York and New Jersey, to proceed 
against Montreal by way of Lake Champlain. The expedition 

Honor to Lord Cornbury. — Establishment of a grammar-school. — Char- 
acter of Cornbury. — Lord Lovelace. — Kichard Ingoldsby. -^ Queen Anne's 
War. 



7i> THIRD PF.niOD. 



OJ 



however, after proceeding as fiir as Wood Creek, al>an- 
donod, in c< leucc of the aliuence of olVeclivo co-<i|)cmtiou 

ou tlie piirt ot Kii^liuul, and inianuuuigeiuout on that of In- 
f^oldahy, who wiuj accunlinj^ly removed. In 1711 au- 
uthur eJc{H.*<iition of four thouHund men waji oq^iiied 
in ihi-M" two j.p'vinctii, in conjunction with Connecticut, to oo- 
<>]Hnito witli au Kn^litdi tlcet under the command of Sir Hoveu- 
• !• II Walker in an attack u{tun Ctuuula, which ali*o prove^l a 
tiniure, entJiilin^ u|K»n the |m»%-inceii, however, a heavy burden 
of debt, aud aenouidy embumuuiin^ their reitourccti for ttovcral 
yean. 



CHAl'TKU V 
UoncRT lIcjfTra, William IUrxct, awd Jonx MoxTonnKnii. 

1. K.vui.Y in the Mummer of 1710 lioDEitT IIintku arrived 
tn tlie province with a commimiou aji Ciovemor, brini^n^ 
over with him three thoiuuuid (^ermaiia, nativeii of tlie 

Pnlatimite, <lriven from their homei) by the {lerHccution of l>oui8 
\IV. of Fnuice, Several of their numlier t4K»k up their almdo 
in New York City, where they crrcto«l a Lutheran diurch ; 
othent nettled upon Livinpiton'H Manor on the liudHon, on the 
tnu't now known an the (fermiui FlattM ; but the ^n^^ter }Mrt 
found |K?mmnent homeit in Peiuuiylvauia, wherv their dettceud- 
ant.s Htill rcMide. 

2. The new (Joremor wiia a man of superior abilitiea and ex- 
cellent character ; but, Cfuiceivinjr himnelf Itound by hiH iuMtnio* 
tionn to HUp}iort the claims of the Crown, and repress the 
pn>win^ Hpirit of insulMinlinAtion in the province, he at onoe 
attachwl himself t<» the ariMtocratic party, and Btrenpthene<l ita 
intluence by ever)* meann in his power. His Council was selected 
fn>m the ablest, weulthiest, and most influential men of the 
colony. He securcnl the warm support of Lewis Morris, one of 
the greatest liuidholdfm in the combined provinces of New 
York and New Jersey, the son of Richxuxi Morris, an ofBoer in 

Expeditions apiiniit Canada. — Arriral of Gorernor Hmler. — Grniuui 
iminik'ranta. — Character of Hunter. — Ilij flnflmolie adminirtratkia. — 
Lt*wi< Murm. 



ENGLISH GOVERNMENT. ■ 53 

Cromwell's army, who had emigrated to America and pur- 
chased a manor ten miles square, in the neighborhood of Har- 
lem, to which he gave the name of Morrisania, and where his 
son now resided. 

3. The unsuccessful expedition for the conquest of 

. 1711 - 12 

Canada, in which the Governor, with the sanction of 

his Council and the Provincial Assemblies, entered with great 
zeal and enthusiasm, produced a discouraging effect upon his sub- 
sequent measures, and seriously impaired his influence with the 
people. His request for a permanent appropriation for the sup- 
port of the government was met by a decided and persistent 
refusal of the Assembly, which could only be prevailed upon to 
furnish supplies for a single year. The Indian tribes had be- 
come distrustful and unreliable ; and a rumored insurrection of 
the negroes had created a riotous panic in the city, resulting in 
the firing of several buildings, the death of many white citizens, 
and the arrest and execution of nineteen of the negroes. 

4. The war between Eno-land and France having been 

1715 
terminated by the treaty of Utrecht, the contest be- 
tween the Governor and the Assembly on the question of sup- 
plies was again renewed, and after a protracted struggle a gov- 
ernment revenue was secured, independent of the people, for 
the term of three years. A Court of Chancery was established 
and confirmed. Lewis Morris was appointed Chief-Justice of the 
province, and taxes on British imports and tonnage duties on for- 
eign vessels were imposed. In 1719 faihng health com- 
pelled the Governor to return to England, leaving the 
government in the hands of Peter Schuyler, the eldest mem- 
ber of the Council. 

5. During the brief period which elapsed before the 
arrival of Governor Hunter's successor the affairs of the 
province were successfully administered by Schuyler, whose long 
familiarity with public affairs, and especially the high regard in 
which he was held by the Indian tribes, enabled him to carry 
on the government to the general acceptation of the people. 

Expedition against Canada. — Effect of its failure. — Contest between 
the Governor and the Assembly. — Court of Chancery. — Chief Justice. — 
Taxes on imports and tonnage duties. — Retui'n of Governor Hunter to 
England. — Peter Schuyler. 



54 TiiinD rrnrofK 

He suooeeded m completely restoring the rolntion* of amity and 
OODOonl l*etwceii the Irotjuois uml the 1^ ., which had pre- 

viously l>ei'!i 8criou»ly intemipteti. 

6. William Buniet, »on of the cclcbmtcd Bihhop Unmet of 
EukIhuJ, arrivtxi »»n the 17th of September, 1720, an tiovemor 
of the two provincen. uiul immetliutely eiitertil ui^m hi* dutiea. 
He waH a man of fine tulentn, |x»pulur in Iuh uumnerR, and fnmk 
and upri^fht in all hia dealmgK The Anhemhly ct»nvene<l five 
yeani pre%ioiuily wa« retained in otHce, and - ttl Iuh ac- 

cciwion and c«»mpl:ii«anoe by votiuj^ him a revenue for the eiuju- 
injf fi%-e yeiiTK lie took into hia oouiweU, such men as Ix'wiB 
Morris Cadwjdlathr (olden. Peter Schuyler, Ciemnluh lieekman, 
Abnduau IH? IVynter, anti William Smith, throujfh wh«*e influ- 
ence he Huci-et-tleil in piming, fuid for a Ciin»iderable period re- 
taining, the public confidence. 

7. To counteract the cfTorta which the French were 
^^' necnnly making Uirough their agent« — the Jeauita, mi»- 

sionarien, and t»then» — to aecure a monoj«.ly of the Indian trade 
along the northeni and weutcm fnmtierw, (Jovemor liuniet, in 
1722, with the aanction of the Aiwembly, commence*! the erec- 
tion of a trading I* wt at (hiwego, with the design of following it 
up with a line of nimilar posta extending from the great north- 
cm hikeii to the mouth of the MiiwiHHi: A com'cntioD of 
deputirn from the several provinces aiwembled at AlUuiy, and 
forwanle«l to the King a memonal stnmgly urginj^ tiic a«loption 
of this policy, whuh, however, faded to receive the royal aaacut, 
and was reluctantly aliandone<l. 

8. A powerful opjKwition had in the mean time spnmg 
up against his adminiKtration, originating in the dimtf- 

fection of a large party of mercluuits and others i: in 

the French trailing p<»licy ; ami the Assembly, imbut^i *ftilh this 

spirit, had withdrawn its confidence from its fonner favorite, 

and refusoil the renewid of suppliej* except f<»r a [n'riotl of 

three years. The Governor in 1727 dis-H^dve*! this iKxly ; 

Ucnrwal of fricndir rrlationn with thr Indiiin lrih«. — Arriral of Gor. 
rmor Bunu-t. — Hi* chsnictcT an*! pi»i»uUriiy. — French iiii««ionanr« and 
trader*. — Tradi" • '-"i at 0«»i-i'<i — ('onrrntion of drlr?»atr» at AU^nr. 
— Mrtnorial to :>jr. — A •nmcoi of ibc uii . ag. — Oyytm- 

lion to ihc Governor id the A.^miiiMv. 



HUNTER, BURNET, MONTGOMERIE. 55 

but its successor proved still more unyielding and refrac- 
tory, and was in its turn dissolved. Through the influence of 
his persevering enemies Burnet was transferred, on the accession 
of George II., to the government of Massachusetts, and the law 
prohibiting the French trade repealed. 

9. During this administration the first public newspa- 
per was established in the city of New York, by William 
Bradford, the government printer, under the title of the New 
York Gazette. It was published weekly, at first on a half-sheet, 
increased during the following year to four pages. 

10. The successor of Governor Burnet, John Mont- 

1728 — 31 
gomerie, entered upon his duties on the 15 th of April, 

1728, as Governor and Chancellor of New York and New Jersey. 
He was cordially welcomed by the citizens, presented with the 
fi'eedom of the city in a gold box, and by the Assembly with a 
revenue for five years. The principal event of his brief ad- 
ministration was the grant, in 1730, of a new city charter. 
He died on the 1st of July, 1731, and was succeeded by Rip 
Van Dam, the eldest member of the Council, who discharged 
the duties of the office for thirteen months, when Colonel Wil- 
liam Cosby, the new Governor, arrived. 



CHAPTER VI. 

Administration of Govei^nor Cosby. — Trial of Zenger. 

1. Cosby's administration was tumultuous, despotic, 
and exceedingly obnoxious to the people. His arbitrary 
and avaricious disposition kept him in continual collision with 
the various factions into which the city and province were 
divided ; and his arrival at a period when liberal principles were 
rapidly attaining a decided ascendency, through the agency of 
the press and public discussion, plunged him at once into the 
vortex of popular dissension, and prepared the way for those 
decisive events which culminated in the American Revolution. 

Transfer of Burnet to Massachusetts. — Repeal of the Prohibitory Act. 
— Establishment of the first newspaper. — Governor Montgomerie. — Kip 
Van Dam. — William Cosby. 



56 rillllD PERIOD. 

2. His first net wa« the nn»«luctiou of a rovul order 
direct iug an CH)iuil divihiou with hiiniiclf of the ituLiry 
of hJM iiuiac>diate prodiic-niMir, Vuii l>aiu, during the brief |icriiMl 
of hiM tcin|Kiniry aduiiiuHtriitiou. The latter cxprtttm.'tl hit 
iUiK4.>nt to thin amui^'cuK-nt, on coudition that ('<'»hy hhould 
rfcijirocatc hy an isjuul |Mkrtici)*atii»u of the | iMtfii rcccivwi 

hy him Hincc hiii i stnu-nt and previous lo iiM aKRitniptKiii 

of othcv. In thiB t. I ho waM »up|Hirted hy the {Mipular 

voice, mhich refuMod to iiiie the Ju^tice of heaping jiecu- 

niarj' emol' * u laviin**! fureij^iera, while depriving 

nutive-bitni uuictrs oi tiieir vc«t4.^ rights. 

3. Ix'jral procoediupi worw a* ' ' • ! :n the iju- 

prpmc Court of the province hy to -i \ an i>iiui for the 

r. rrjvery of the amount chiime<L Aa um CJovenior hinmelf 
wuj<, hy virtue of his otiice, cltanc«llar, and two of the other 
jud^(*K, [>e I^nrcy and I'hihfvHO, his |ier«oual friendA, uxccptiona 
werv taken hy the cxmnael fur the tiefenoe apiiuMt the juritidic- 
ti.n of the court, A majority of the jud^'el^ however. nt 

Chief-JuHtitx' Momii, ovcmd*^! the cxceptiona, and dii. • \\ liio 
payment to (.\j(ihy uf lialf of Van IHuu'm iwlary. Morrui waa 
prxtmptly removi><i from office, and IV* I^mcey ap[M»inti<d in hia 
phice, without even the formahty of conxultin^ the Council 

4. Theae hij;h h ' ^ and arbitrary pn>cee<ljnpi of tho 
(tovonior ruuaed iiit juhhc ii ' - • n to a \\\^\\ pitch. 
The {M>puhir diNi*ontent at fimt vt-nii^i jin<-lf in twpiiha, huu- 
{MiAna, and natirical UJUida, levelletl apiiiutt the ariHtiicnicy, 
wliu'h H|ieedi)y cuhuiimted in nvKtematic at* - ^ -. thrr>u;;h tho 
cohunnn of tlic New Y<»rk Weeklv Journal, eiiii«M liv John Peter 
Zen;:er — apitnat the (Jovornor, Council, Aa«emhly, and Court, 
:''• • "linjj them in the »tron#;c«t terms for a violation of tho 
1-... i..iH«, ri:.'htH, and privilejirea of the people, for the tyran- 
nical uxsuniption of arhitmr>' and dc«|K»tic jK»wer, and for tho 
|ien'crMi«»n of their official Htations to purposes of personal re- 
sentment and private emolument. 

ft. The Council in Noveml»cr, 1 7.34, ordered theae papers to 
bo burnt by the handfl of the common hangman, and a few day 



C with Vnn P Jim. — Pmr •• — Arlntrary 

urrx ot *..-i;. — rujmlar (liaooBlenL — J-mih i . u i / 



ENGLISH GOVERNMENT. 57 

afterwards Zenger was arrested and imprisoned on a criminal 

charge for publishing a seditious libel against the government. 

The grand jury having refused to find a bill of indictment for 

this offence, an information was, in January, 1735, filed against 

the prisoner by the Attorney-General, and after a protracted 

confinement he was brought up for trial on the 4th of August, 

1735. His friends in the mean time, and an association 

1 735 
known as the " Sons of Liberty " for the protection and 

advocacy of popular rights, had secured the services of the vener- 
able Andrew Hamilton, of Philadelphia, then eighty years of age, 
but in full possession of all his faculties, as counsel for the defence. 

6. This remarkable trial took place in the City Hall, before 
the judges of the Supreme Court, James De Lancey presiding 
as Chief Justice, Philipse as Judge, and Bradley as Attorney- 
General. The court-room was crowded to excess by an anxious 
and excited auditory, and the unexpected appearance of the 
venerable and eloquent counsel for the prisoner added intense 
interest to the scene. The plea of " Not guilty " having been 
interposed, and a jury impanelled, the publication of the alleged 
libel was boldly admitted, and full proof of its justification 
offered. The Attorney-General, however, resisted the introduc- 
tion of this proof, on the ground that in a criminal proceeding 
for the publication of libellous matter the truth of the facts 
alleged was inadmissible in evidence. This objection was sus- 
tained by the Court. 

7. Hamilton then proceeded to address the jury, and in an 
eloquent and brilliant speech confuted the assumption of the 
Court that " the greater the truth, the greater was the libel " ; 
insisted that the jury were themselves the judges, not only of 
the facts, but of the law ; that it was their peculiar province 
to pass upon all the circumstances and bearings of the alleged 
offence, and to determine for themselves its innocence or guilt ; 
that they were the sworn protectors of the rights, liberties, and 
privileges of their fellow-citizens, violated in this instance by a 
most outrageous and vindictive series of persecutions ; that it was 
for them to interpose between the tj^rannical and arbitrary viola- 
tions of law and justice and their intended victim ; to assert 

Prosecution for libel. — Trial of Zenker. 



58 TiniiD PEPdOD. 

and uj)hoM tlic frcoilom of speech niul t»f tlic praM» and to vin- 
dicate by their veniict tlie Buprcniucy of the j over their 
vnnton and |K>werful oppress^irH. 

8. Notwithstanding; tl»e reitonitetl cliarge of the Court that 
they were jud^aii of tiie facts only put in iwue, and not of the 
conchihionn of Uiw u|ion thone fa that the truth of tite 

allo^ri'tl hl»el wa^i a matter wht»lly lieytaul their juri^ n ; 

and that itti pi ■ liavin<i; l>een adniitte<i, and all cvidcnco 

of the factM exclude*!, it waji their ini[K*nitivo duty to convict 
the 1 JMD'' «^<''' *^ brief drhU-rat ion, unauinunutly 

retunie<l a verdict of ** Not jfudty.'* Anud the irrepre»»il»le ap- 
plause of the vniit crowd of Hpectatont llaniilton wtut Itonie in 
triumph fn>m the hall, and conductetl to a splendid entertain- 
ment prei«irt-<l for lus reception. A public dinner was next day 
^ven lum by the citizeiis, the frvc<i«uu of the city pres«.'nte<i by 
the corfMiration, nml his dc|«irture sipudized by the hi^hetit and 
most distill d honorx. 

U. ThuH ti-ruiinatcfl this exciting' and un{>ortant triid by the 
complete triumph of the iMtpubu- cause, — the vm ' -n of the 

riglit of the public prem to |)iisH u|Min the con«luct ui the public 
authorities, and to criticise, with entin* freedom, their othcial 
pnH*ee« lings, — and the assertion of the unalterable detennination 
of the jHNiplo to pn»tcvt their champions and the defenders of 
their ^t all the assaults of pr>wer. and the machina- 

tions of tynuiny and oppression. The organization eftVvted for 
the RUCCGMnful a« inent of these ^nvat objt»ct« was |)er- 

p(>tmiti'd and stn iiu'ihene<| for the attainment at no distant 
|)enod of a still more si^nial and important triumph. 

10. (Vwbv. however, notwitlistandintf the severe repidsc 
he had nveivt»<l thn»u;:h the aoquitUd t»f /enuiT, still 
persiste<l with unyielding pertinacity in his arbitrary and ra|)tt- 
cious pn>cee<l; He directed a resurvcy of the grants oimI 

patents of land lu the pn»vinco with the view of adding to his 
revenues by the fecR, ami destn\ve<l scvend imfH»rtant documents 
intruste*! to him for this purpose. His death on the lOth of 
March, 173G, put an end to his further proccedinjjs ; not, how- 
ever, until ho had once more si^niAlizetl his inveterate hostility 

Actiuitul of Zcngw. — Opprwtire prooeedillgt of Cotby. 



CLARKE, CLINTON, OSBORNE, ETC. 59 

to the people by the suspension, through his Council, of his 
former antagonist. Rip Van Dam, who, as the oldest member of 
the Council, would have been entitled to the administration on 
his decease. 



CHAPTER VII. 

Administration or George Clarke. — Negro Plot. — Admiral 
Clinton. — Sir Danvers Osborne. — James De Lancey. — Sir 
Charles Hardy. 

1. George Clarke, the next in succession, was in- 

17S7 

ducted into office by the Council, and on the 14:th of 
October subsequently received a commission from England em- 
powering him to act as Lieutenant-Governor until the arrival 
of Cosby's successor. He endeavored to ingi^atiate himself with 
both the aristocratic and the popular party. The Assembly was 
dissolved, and a new one called, which met in the ensuing sum- 
mer, but could not be prevailed upon to grant a revenue for a 
longer period than one year. This precedent was thereafter 
steadily acted upon by the assemblies subsequently convened. 
The only act of importance passed during the session was one 
disfranchising the Jews residing in the province. 

2. At this period New York City contained about 
ten thousand inhabitants, nearly one fifth of whom were 
negro slaves. Both the Dutch and English governments had sys- 
tematically encouraged their importation into the colony, and the 
principal merchants of the city had engaged in the traffic as a 
prominent branch of trade and source of profit. The most 
stringent regulations for their control and subordination were 
enacted, and every transgression was severely punished ; but 
their great number, thievish propensities, and occasional acts of 
insubordination, rendered the community sensitively alive to the 
possible dangers which might arise from their presence. This 
pervading feeling of insecurity required only a slight provocation 
to ripen into a general panic. 

Cosby's death. — Exclusion of Van Dam. — George Clarke, Lieutenant- 
Governor. — Dissolution of Assembly. — Disfranchisement of the Jews. — 
Slavery in New York. 



60 TIIjrd> PERIOD. 

3. A triflinj? rohl>er}' which occurrwl in Miirch, 1741, in the 
houae of a merclmnt, and which wju* traced to some of the ne- 
groes, followeU 8<x>n after by a sorie* of incenduiry fires in dif- 
ferent (jiiartere of the city, creattnl a general alann, and no in- 
flamed the public mind, that numerouH arre«t« were ma<lc, and 
a searching investigation iiujtitutod by the anthohtifH, which, 
however, failed in diiicovcring any reliable tmceu of the gtiilty 
perjH^tmtorH. Heavy rewards were ofVereil by the Common Coun- 
cil for their arrest and conviction, together with a full jwrdon 
to any of their numltor who would reveal his knowK-dge of the 
conspiracv and denounce his associates. Many of the inluibi- 
tants ren»ove<i their pxuls fn>m the city, an<l ever)' effort was 
made to obtAin the fkiuteiit clew to the guilty authors of the 
outrages. 

4. The Supreme Court of the province was specially con- 
Tene<l for the investigation of the matter, and a grand-junk* con- 
sisting of the princijwl inhabitants of the city charge<l with its 
oonHideration. (ireat numbers of witneMM wore examinetl, and 
on the testimony of a negro girl, Mary Burton, who liad been 
prr>misc<l a full portion, several of the negroes implicated by her 
were arreste<l, and, notwithstanding their terrifie<l efforts to se- 
cure safety by criminating their innocent associates, were oon- 
victetl and exeoute<i. 

5. Other informers spcoflily appeared, and fresh %-ictims to 
the popular furk- wrre immolatc^l in great numl>eni and in quick 
succession. The |x»pulare, niiiddoned by excitement and thirst- 
ing for revenge, stiniulated the authorities in the prosecution of 
their hasty inquiries, and even refused to permit any interfer- 
ence on their |iftrt with the fate of the c*mdemned, even when, 
by a c«>mpliancc with the terms of jianion, they had cut'''"! 
themselves to immunity. 

6. The general fury and panic, imappeased by the wholesale 
■acrifice of the negroes, soon extencle<l to the white population. 
John Cry, a reputed Catholic priest and schoc»l master, was de- 
nouncctl by the girl Mary Burton, and notwithstanding his pro- 
testations of innocence, and the alxsence of all rational proof t if 
guilt, was summarily condemned and executed. His arrest was 

Origin of ths negro plot. — Invntigation br the autboritioft- — Public 
iokxntat. 



ENGLISH GOVERNMENT. 61 

the signal for the implication of others of the whites ; and the 
reign of terror was fearfully inaugurated throughout the city. 
The prisons were rapidly filled with the miserable victims of the 
popular delusion ; and so great was their number that infection 
was averted only by the frequency of executions when pardons 
could not be effected. 

7. From the 11th of May to the 29th of August, the day of 
the execution of Ury, one hundred and fifty-four negroes were 
committed to prison, fourteen of whom were burnt at the stake, 
eighteen hanged, and seventy-one transported. During the 
same period twenty-four whites were imprisoned, four of whom 
were executed. The implication by Burton of some of the 
principal inhabitants who were known to be innocent served to 
sober down the popular excitement, and restore the community 
to its wonted composure. The prisons were cleared, a day of 
general thanksgiving proclaimed, and the ordinary channels of 
business again resumed. 

8. Upon the most candid and impartial survey of all the 
facts, no substantial justification seems to be afforded for the 
merciless persecution of the hapless victims of this terrible 
period. Both informers and witnesses were of the lowest and 
vilest character, their testimony vague and contradictory, and 
their inducements to falsehood strong and powerful. Nothing 
but the irrational panic pervading all classes could have attached 
any serious weight to the incredible and inconsistent statements 
of these frightened wretches, driven to perjury by the imminent 
fear of death, and encouraged in their successful devices by the 
applause of the terrified multitude. The whole fearful drama 
seems but a repetition, on a somewhat smaller scale and hum- 
bler surrounding, of the celebrated Titus Gates Plot ; and the 
sole excuse for. the harsh proceedings of the public authorities 
consists in their inability in the midst of the prevailing panic 
to discover the real authors of the crimes originally perpetrated. 

9. In September, 1 743, Lieutenant-Governor Clarke ^^^^ 
was superseded by Admiral George Clinton, father of the 

Sir Henry Clinton who commanded the British troops during the 
subsequent Revolution. He met with a favorable reception, 

Reiffn of terror. — Number of the victims. — End of the excitement — 
Summary of the evidence, — Admiral George Clinton. 



62 TllinD PFniOD. 

received t)»o lumnl vote of 8ui)j>lie«, coiiuuicd with the A^vembly 
in all it« nietuiurcs, — among which wim one limiting \i^^ term 
auil that of itJi Hucoesaore to a jieriod of ueven yoam, — and ct>- 
openite<l with that hotly in fitting' out an cxpf«lition for the con- 
qiuht of i'aniulm in the war then pending l>etween France and 
Kiu'land. lie H4M»n, however, became involved in a colliHion be- 
twten the two leadni;; political fnctionB heailcil bv l>o Ijincey 
and i 'olden, which occoMione^ him no little vexation and emlior- 
nui.snu'nt during the remauider of bin tenn. 

10. In 1748 ho inetfeftindlv uruaxl ui^.u the ARBom- 
bly an appropriation for the BUpjiort of the jrovenmient 

tur tivo yearn, with the view of a^n rendering the executivf 
inde{>cndent of that Ixxly. Soon afterwanU ho made hintHelf 
obnoiioiiH to the p» • ■ ' '^ party by refiwinjf to nurrender for trial 
the captain of an i^u^iiah war-voHiiel which liod fired ui>on a 
oolontol ve«iM*l, killing one of ita jiaimengerH, for omiiution to 
lower it« tla^ in ixiAJiin^, as re(|uire<l by the re>ndationii of the 
homo jfovernmenL The {>i>niiHtcnt refuiuU of the AMiM>inbIy to 
comply with bin rciterate<l denuuidH for a jK'mianent revenue, 
and the {Miwerful op|iofiition he encountered fn»m all cliuuica of 
the jx'ojile, hnally induced him, after pr«n>guinj; the refractory 
Chainljcr, to tender bin retu^iation and abandon tho guveni- 
ment 

11. He woii Muccee<led on the 7th of September, 17r»3, 
1753 

by Sir pANVKits O.HintiiNK, with inHtnit^ionM for the main- 
tenance of tlio royal pren>pitive, and the demand of a |>er- 
mancnt revenue, to bo dibbunte*! Molely by himtfelf ond his 
Council. On amumint; the p.)vemment, the corporation of tho 
city preAontetl him with an addretM of con^n^tulatiou, at the 
same time expn*}«Nin^ the \w\fc that he would be as averse to 
countenancing;, aj» they kIiouM Ik) to f>ennittinjf, any infringe- 
ment u|)on their civil or rclijfious lilwrtiea. A mo^iificent 
entertainment was jrivcn him by the city, accx>mjianie«l with tho 
BtruugcHt iimnifeHtations of {M>pular ri'pini. 

12. A few days afterwards the Council was convened and th<' 
Governor's instructions were laid l>eft»re them. On l»einjj infonne<l 
by them tliat the Ajty«cmbly would unqucationably refuse obodi- 

T)iiScnriop» with tho Awcmhly. — Popular cliKt>ntrnt. — R»i m. — 

iSir Dsavcn Osborne. — His rvixpcion. — Prooeediofi of Um Couuui. 



DE LANCEY AND HARDY. G3 

ence to the royal commands, he appeared deeply dejected ; and 
on the ensuing morning his body was found suspended by a 
handkerchief from the garden-wall of his lodgings. He had 
previously been subject to derangement, owing to domestic 
losses, and had once before attempted his life. By his death 
the government devolved upon Lieutenant-Governor James De 
Lancet, who, by his recent persistent and successful opposition 
to the demands of the Crown, had rendered himself highly 
popular. 

13. A striking change had occurred in the relative position 
of parties. The aristocratic faction, headed by De Lancey, Col- 
den, Van Rensselaer, Philipse, Heathcote, and others, had now 
become the popular leaders, while their former opponents had 
ranged themselves under the royal banner. Hence the position 
of the new Governor was one of peculiar difficulty. Compelled 
by the instructions of his predecessor to carry out the policy of 
the Crown, he found himself at the same time pledged, as the 
leader of the popular party, to a policy diametrically opposite. 
While, therefore, he fulfilled the letter of his instructions by lay- 
ing them before the Assembly, he at the same time urged upon 
the home government the propriety and necessity of concessions 
to the popular will. 

14. In September, 1755, Sir Charles Hardy arrived at 
New York as Governor, and was received with the usual 
honors. De Lancey resumed his seat as Chief-Justice ; but 
Hardy, fully conscious of his own deficiencies in the new and un- 
accustomed field of action which had been assigned him, aban- 
doned all but its nominal duties to his predecessor, and by 
his return to England and resumption of his post in the navy, 
left the government again in his charge. 

Suicide. — Accession of Lieutenant-Governor De Lancey. — His policy and 
its results. — Sir Charles Hardy. — His abandonment of the government and 
return to England. 



/ 




nuin* of Fort Tk 

lornni im imod. 

FROM THE FHKyciI AM) IS If I AS WAR TO TUE 

RFVltLrTlOS, 



CHAPTER I. 

Admi!(I8teatiox or LiRrTr<r4?iT OorBKyoR De Lahcet. — CxMrAioxs 

or 17M. 1755, AMD 1756. 

1. Ajtf.k tho capture of the Fortreas of IxMiinhiir^. on Cape 
Breton Inland, then (174.'>) in |»o«m»H8ion of the French, 
l»y the F.n^rhnh flei-t under Commodore Warren, and the 
combined colonial forces under Wtlham IVpperell, — a blow 
renilere<I the more severe by the vaiit cxfwniw and great Ktren^h 
of the works, — the French entered ujw>n a coume of vi^rorouH 
oixTitions to concentrate and extend their power in America, in 
op|K>8ition to tlic efforts of their bcrcditar)- cnemieH, the Kngh»h, 



PrrpArntionsof the French for opposing ihc 
in AnicricA. 



of the Brittjth power 



THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 65 

who had already obtained so firm a footing. Having estab- 
hshed a number of trading-posts and missionary stations among 
the Indian tribes occupying the depth of the wilderness along 
the entire valley of the Mississippi most remote from the white 
settlements, they prepared to assert their possessory claims by 
such efficient measures as seemed best adapted to the accom- 
plishment of this object. 

2. They built a strong fleet of vessels at Kingston, on the 
Canadian shore of Lake Ontario ; strengthened Fort Niagara, at 
the confluence of the Niagara River with that lake; entered 
into friendly negotiations with the Delaware tribe of Indians 
on the east, and the Shawnees on the west of the Alleghany 
Mountains; and erected a formidable chain of fortifications, 
commanding the entire valley of the Mississippi and its tribu- 
taries from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. 

3. The collision between the Ohio Company, claiming 
an extensive tract of land on the Ohio River under the 
English Government, and the French, who were engaged in 
the erection of forts south of Lake Erie, caused the first mili- 
tary services of Geoege Washington to be put in requisition 
by Governor Dinwiddle, of Virginia. St. Pierre, the com- 
mander of the fort to which Washington was despatched, re- 
fused to withdraw his troops from its occupation; and in 1754 
an unsuccessful effort was made by the Ohio Company to ^^^^^ 
erect a fort on the present site of Pittsburg, at the junc- 
tion of the Alleghany and Monongahela Rivers. The workmen 
were driven from the ground by the French, who completed the 
fort and gave it the name of Fort du Quesne. 

4. Washington, at the head of a body of provincial troops from 
Virginia, marched into the disputed territory, surprised and rout- 
ed an advance party of French sent to intercept his approach, and 
after erecting a small fort, which he named Fort Necessity, and 
being reinforced by additional troops from New York and the 
Carolinas, proceeded with four hundred men on his route to Fort 
du Quesne. Hearing, however, of the advance of a large body 
of French and Indians, he returned to Fort Necessity, where he 



Washington's mission to St. Pierre. — Its result. — Establishment by the 
French of Fort du Quesne. 



66 rovnTii p Kill on. 



soon aAcr attacked l>\ a sujierior force, and oompc>lle4l to 
capitulute utter n severe uiul obstinate resistance, with |)oriuis- 
sion to retire iiniuole.ste<l to Vir>^iuia. 

5. The Kn^liHh MiniHtrv, in the mean time, aware of the 
inijM>rtunce of the criHia, luul ft>niranieti iustnictions to their 
colunieH to secure, if |)o«Kible, the continued friendship and 
alliunce of the IrotiuoiM IndumA, and t4> unite their etTortM in the 
common defence. In acconiaaoe with thiu reconunendution a 
convention of deleitratea from the ro«j)ective colonics wju* held 
in AlUuiv in the tiummer of thin vear, Lieutouant-^iovemor 
I>c Lancoy preHiilin^, a treaty with the Six Nations renewed, 
and a plan of o»nfe<leration, siniihir to tliat Hulwe<(uently adopted 
by the Continental < -aii, submitted by the celebrated Dr. 

Benjamin Franklin, of i'ennsylvania, and adopto<l on the fotirth 
day of July. The odoniul aiweniblieM and the representatives 
of the ItritiNh (Jovenunent n-fuHcd, however, to ratify the ordi- 
nance of the Vo\\\ w ; and the conduct of the war was con- 

fided to the Kn^linh I'lirliument, with huch aid as the colonics 
mi^ht find them.telves able to funiitdi. 

G. In IT.**.'), (General Hratidock was sent over as Com- 
mander-in-Chief; and at a convention of the colonial 
governors three expeditii>ns were resolved ufion : one against 
Fort tlu (^ucHne, uniier Hnuldock himnelf ; one afo^inst N i ; 

and a thinl apunst Crown Point, on the western sliorc of I 
Cham|»liiin. The hrst was disastHMis in the extreme, an<l the 
trcK)|i« en;;a^'iMl in it were saved frt)ni total destnictitm only by 
the c*»olne,«w an«l bravery of Washin^'tou. Thut ainiinst Crown 
Point was intrustiNl to (ienenil Johnson, ofterwnnls Sir Wil- 
liam Johnson, a memlvr of the Council of New York. 

7. In July, 17.').'>, aliout six thousand trrxipn frt>m New Enjf- 
land. New York, and New Jersey assembled, under the com- 
mand of General Lyman, of Connect ictit, at the head of l>oat 
navi^tion on the Hudson, fifty miles north of Allwiny. where 
a strong fortification, afterwards known as Fort Edward, was 
erected. General Johnson, immediately on his arriral in Auintst, 



Attack on Fort NconuQir, br the Frnich and Indians, and its eapitalailon 
hr Wii.«.hinjrton. — Kcncwal of tnmtim with the InM]aou. — Conrrntion at 
Albany, and plan of ctjnfe«U>ra(i<«n <>f Dr. Franklin. — Ercnta of 17M. — 
Gviicral Juhnwn't campaign. — Fort EUwartl. 



OPERATIONS ON LAKE GEORGE. 67 

with the main body of the troops, marched to the head of 
Lake George, where he estabhshed a camp preparatory to an 
attack upon Crown Point, situated on a tongue of land on the 
southern shore of Lake Champlain. 

8. Baron Dieskau, the French commander, in the mean time, 
with two thousand men, chiefly Canadians and Indians, was ap- 
proaching from Montreal by way of Lake Champlain ; and, aban- 
doning his first intention of attacking Fort Edward, marched 
dii'ectly to the English camp on Lake George. Colonel Wil- 
liams was immediately despatched by Johnson, with a thousand 
Massachusetts troops and two hundred Mohawks, under their 
famous Sachem Hendricks, to intercept the French. After pro- 
ceeding a few miles, however, the l^etachment fell into an am- 
buscade ; both Williams and Hendricks were slain, and their 
comrades fell back in good order upon the camp, hotly pur- 
sued by the enemy. 

9. Early in September, Dieskau advanced with his forces to 
the English camp, where, intrenchments having been hastily 
thrown up, he was received with a spirited fire of musketry and 
artillery. The Canadian militia and Indians fled to the shelter 
of the surrounding forests, and the approach of reinforcements 
under General Lyman from Fort Edward, together with the loss 
of their leader. Baron Dieskau, who was severely wounded, com- 
pelled them to withdraw to the fortifications of Crown Point. 
Johnson, after having erected a fort called William Henry on the 
site of his camp, and streng-thened Fort Edward, dispersed the 
residue of his troops, and returned in October to Albany. For 
his services in this campaign the King bestowed upon him the 
order of knighthood, and presented him with a large sum of 
money. 

10. The expedition of Shirley against Niagara and Frontenac 
was unsuccessful. The prevalence of heavy storms, sickness in 
the camp, desertion of the Indians, and other casualties, pre- 
vented any efficient action until the lateness of the season ren- 
dered it advisable to relinquish the enterprise. Leaving a suffi- 

Camp on Lake George. — Attack hy Dieskau. — Williams and Hendricks 
slain. — Dieskau's attack upon the English camp. — Its repulse. — Forts 
Edward and William Henry. — Johnson's promotion. — Failure of the ex- 
pedition against Niagara by Shirley. 



68 FOURTU rrnron. 

cicnt garrison at Onrego \\iu\cr Coluiul Mercor, the rsaMundcr 
of tho tnxj|>s wcro rccoiuluctcd to ^Ubuuv, and their commandflT 
rutunied to Ma&iiachiMetts. 

11. The aiiniMii;^ni of 1756, planned by a meetmg of 
the ueveral colonial jj^venuinj at New York in iHrccinWr 
preceding, compriMii an nttmk u|)on Crown Point with ten 
thoiiHand men, Nia^iru with nix thouaund. Fort da (^ueano 
with thrt*o thoutuind, and (^uobeo and the other French Hettle- 
ment.s in C'tuuida with two thouHtiud. <\vy waa HU))erMediHl 

in hiM command, in tlie nprin^ of 1 75G, by Ix^rd l»iidoiin. Gov- 
eruor of Vir^^inia, with (ienend AU*rcroml»ie aa his lieutenant 

12. tjirly in June the hitter arrived with (tenend Wrhh and 
aereral rej'iment* of HntiNh tnM.|.H. (>iiieral Win«l<»w, of Miu»- 
■echue e tts, wmi aanipu'*! to the e<>niinand i>f the exitinlition 
•gainNt <'rown Point, and with a f<*riv of M.*vcn thouHand men 
awaiti^l the arrival of I»udoun at AlUinv, mhcrc AlK»rcrom!»io 
was engaged in nettling Tcxatiouii (|ueKtionj) of rank l>etween 
the officerB of tho regular and provincial tnHtjMt, and coiitro- 
veniiea with the citizenn growing out of the hilhting of tho sol- 
diem u|M»n them. Ix)udt>iin did not make hiM ap|K>arance until 
tho latter |»art of July ; and Ufore pre|ianition8 for the com- 
mencement of the cajn|Kiitni could l)c completed, the advance of 
tho 8i'iU4(>n and the HUcceaseM of tho French liad rendere<l them 
nutn»t<»ry. 

l.'{. In the mean time an attack was made upon Onwcgo by a 
body of French troojia under De Lery, who penetmtcd to the 
fort at tho Oneida portage, gained poMeasion of it, and, destroy- 
ing ita stores, returned to Montmd with thirty priKonem. I>o 
Villiers, also, with eight hundre<l men, entahliHhed a camp in 
May near the mouth of Suuly Creek, fnun whenoo he was en- 
abled to 11/ t all supplies and reinforoementa for the town. 
Four of tho ^^4i .Nations — the (hiondagaa, Oneidas, Cayugas, and 
Mohawks — sent an embassy to Montreal with a deilaration of 
neutrality and a j>etition for protection, which met with a favor- 
ahle rcM|)on«o. 

14. The Marquin dc Montcalm, the successor of Dicskaa in 



Campalirn of ITSfi. — Arriral of Ix>rU Loudoun, AbrrrromMc. and Wchb. 

— DiUtfirj pro«< — Abandonment of ihc mtturk npon C'n»wn Toint- 

— Attack upon Oswego. — Neutrality of a portion of the Iroquois tribes. 



THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 69 

the command of the French army, after strengthening the 
defences of Fort Carillon at Ticonderoga, proceeded, early in 
August, with three regiments from Quebec and a large force of 
Canadians and Indians, to the attack of Fort Ontario, which was 
in charge of Colonel Mercer, Shirley being in command of the 
principal fort, Oswego, on the west bank of the river, nearly op- 
posite. The fort was gallantly defended for several hours by its 
garrison, when, their ammunition having been expended, they 
spiked their guns and retreated to Fort Oswego. 

15. Montcalm immediately occupied the height, and turned 
such of the guns of the fort as were still serviceable upon the 
remaining fortress. Colonel Mercer was shot down, and a 
formidable breach made in the walls. On the succeeding day 
(August 14), as Montcalm was making preparations for storming 
the intrenchments, the garrison, about sixteen hundred in num- 
ber, capitulated. One hundred and twenty cannon, six vessels 
of war, three hundred boats, three chests of money, and stores 
of ammunition and provisions, with fourteen hundred prisoners, 
fell into the power of the conquerors as the spoils of victory. 

16. After demolishing the forts, Montcalm returned to Canada, 
leaving the entire region of the Six Nations open to the incur- 
sions of the French. A thousand of the regular troops were 
billeted by Loudoun upon the citizens of New York, notwith- 
standing the remonstrances of the authorities against this inva- 
sion of their rights and privileges under the common law as 
Englishmen. Overawed by the threats of Loudoun, a subscrip- 
tion was raised by the magistrates, and the demand reluctantly 
complied w^ith. 

Montcalm attacks Forts Ontario and Oswego. — Surrender of the gar- 
rison. — Death of Mercer. — Quartering of troops in New York. 



'0 FOURTn PERIOD, 



CHAPTKU II. 
Siege or Fort Willi vm IIbxht— CArrcRB or Ticoxde«ooa, C«ow!« 

I'OIXT, NiAOAMA, KoKT Df (jliiHNt, t^L KBBC, AXD MuXTKftAU — 

Go%'i:kk«'K« Colukk axd Muncktox. 

1. AfU-T an ineffectiud eflort on the part of Lord Ix)U(loun 
to ciipture LouUlmrg, Montculm, towartU the cltme of 

**^"' Julv, 1757, proceeded, with a fone of alwut seven thou- 
sand whites and two thoiuuuid ne^Tvu's, to lay Hicgo to Fort Wil- 
liam Hinn-, then under the comiiuuui of Colonel Monro, with 
three thousand tro*>|». (imeral Webb wan at Fort Wward 
with ftuir thouMand men ; and with thiu combined force Colonel 
Monro deemed his {wmition impTQgnable. To the demand of 
Montcidm, on the 4th of AupiMt, for Hurrender of the fort, he 
rvtunied a defiant answiT, luid the nu'^'e pnnn^?«8e<l. 

2. An cxpn*»« wiu* deMpatchc*! by Monro to Wtbb for rein- 
forcomenta, which wum rej^ated duriuj^ the enHuin^' »>» day*. 
without clicitin:: any action on his i«irt other tliau an advice to 
capitulate, whirh wii« intorcepttMl by the Frciuh and forwanled 
to Monn>. Cndcr tliene diHc«)ura^injf circiunHtanccH, and liaving 
exhauHtoil Iuh iiumuim of defmce, that gallant ofhoer sent a flag 
of truce to Montcalm, with the view of negi>tiating terma of 
Buirendcr. 

3. The French commnndfr, after a council with the Indians, 
oonaentiHl to allow the 1 li to dc|nirt from the fort with the 
honors of war, — delivering up all their prisoners and leaving 
all their military' store*, with a ple<lge not to serve against the 
French for eighteen months, — and to furnish an eaoort for 
their dcfiarture. On the 0th of August this arrangement was 
carried into effect, — the French took poa wwi on of the fort, and 
the Knglish retired to their intrenched camp. 

4. The Indians, meanwhile, having procured from the Eng- 
lish the means of intoxication, s{)ent the night in feasting and 
revelry, and when, on the ensuing morning, the Knglinh were 
preparing for their march to Fort E<lward, conmience<l an in- 

8hg« of Fort Willinm TTonrr. — Treacberx of Webb. — Ncsotiatioa Ibr 
a surrender. — Surrvodcr of the fort. 



THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 71 

discriminate attack, plunder, and massacre. In spite of all the 
efforts of Montcalm and the officers under his command, a large 
proportion of the defenceless troops were slain or taken captives, 
and only about six hundred of the whole number succeeded, 
after encountering the utmost peril, in reaching Fort Edward. 
Four hundred were rescued by Montcalm from the French camp 
and sent under a heavy escort to rejoin their comrades, and an 
officer was despatched by him to ransom the captives. The fort 
and its appendages were destroyed. 

5. The campaign of 1758 commenced under more 
favorable auspices. William Pitt had succeeded to the 
reins of government in England, arid under his instructions 
Lord Loudoun was recalled from the command in America, and 
General Abercrombie appointed in his place. A strong naval 
force was sent out under Admiral Boscawen, and twelve thou- 
sand additional troops forwarded for the defence of the colonies. 
To these the latter added nearly thirty-five thousand men, of 
which New York furnished about three thousand, so that on the 
arrival of Abercrombie he found an effective army of nearly 
fifty thousand men at his disposal. 

6. Three several expeditions were speedily organized. Gen- 
eral Amherst, with the English troops under the intrepid James 
Wolfe, was assigned, in conjunction with the naval armament of 
Boscawen, to the conquest of Louisburg ; General Forbes to that 
of Fort du Quesne and the Ohio Valley ; and to Abercrombie 
himself, with Lord Howe as his lieutenant, was intrusted the 
capture of Ticonderoga and Crown Point. 

7. General Amherst, with a fleet of twenty-two ships of the 
line and fifteen frigates, and ten thousand effective men, disem- 
barked in front of Louisburg on the 8th of June, and entered 
vigorously upon the siege of that important fortress. It was 
not, however, until the 26th of July, that its French defenders, 
finding further opposition futile, surrendered the town and fort, 
together with the islands of Cape Breton and St. John (now Prince 
Edward) and their dependencies, leaving the English masters of 
the entire territory nearly to the mouth of the St. Lawrence. 

Massacre of the garrison by the Indians. — Noble exertions of Montcalm 
for their rescue. — Destruction of the fort. — Campaign of 1758. — Organi- 
zation of forces, and plan of the campaign. 



I J 



2 FOURTH PERIOD. 



8. Meanwhile AI)ercrombie, with Beven thousand refrnlani, 
nine thouHiiud provincial tnH)|»8, and a heavy train of artillery, 
wax thiuulerin^ apiiniit the fort i Heat ioni* of Ticondero^fa^ then 
occiipieil hy Miuitoalm with an inferior force. The pUlunt lx)rd 
Howe, on luH march from Lake (teorge, had been attackeil and 
slain hy a Hcoutin^-fiarty of the enemy. Abcrcrombie, on the 
8th of July, wan lieverely repulHetl in an attack ujwu the fort, 
and after a bloody conflict of several hourM* duration was com- 
jtelled to retreat to Ijiko (ieorjife, 

9. The French fort at Frontenac wa8 then attueketl by (Jen- 
cral Hradxtreot, aide<l by a detachment of three thoiuuuid men 
sent by Alicrcrombie. and a hundnnl and fifty warrion* of the 
Six Nations On t ih of Au^iHt it was 8um'ndere<l, with 
a lar>^ c n of military Kti>rvM for Fort du QtieHiie, and 
nine armed . v HmdMtreet, aft<?r de«tn»yin^ the fort, re- 
turned to Homo, where he built Fort Stanwix. Al>ercrt)mbie, 
havin)^ puriitoued Fort (leorge, retunicHl to AlUuiy with his 
remaining' forces, and waa aoon allorwarda RU{>enicdod in hi.s 
command by (joneral AudtcrMt. 

10. Fort tlu (^uenne, on the 24th of Not-eml^er, Hurren<leretl 
umler an attack of the pmvincial troo|)«, commandcHl by Waah 
in^on, though nominally under the contnd uf (tcneral Forltea. 
It« name wan change*! to that of Fort I*itt, in honor of the 
irrvni I ':i minister, wIkmo cner^rPtic coumtelH had infiiaod 90 
much Mpint into the athiint of the colonien, and contributed so 
largely to tlie triumph of ita anns. 

11. Alwrrrombio having l»ocn succeeded by Genend 
Amherst, twenty thouMuid pmvinciid troojKi were, etirly 
in the Hprin^', pUicetl at his diK|ir»Hal, and a Ur^^e limd and naval 
force of n^ulam »»ont over from Kn>;lan<i. '• lend \Vt»lfe was 
directetl to ancend the St I^wrvnce and attack (^uel>ec ; Am- 
herst himnclf undertook the conquest of Ticondertn.'a, after 
which he was to seize Mt»ntreal and unite his forces with thoae 
of Wolfe U'forc Quetx«c : and (Jeneral Pridcaux was to capture 
Fort Nia;^ira, and pr<K-cHil to Montreal. 

At- V -:pon Fort Tiront? — TVsth of Lord nn«r4>. — lUpoUe of 

the 1 . — Hc(r«>at to I^i.-. .rjjo. — Af«j»il mxin For« rr..ni.ni.- )ir 

Bra<l>tnft. — KcTnll of AluTrronibic and aj t of Ai , - 

tunc of Fort du Qucjtnc — Amhcnt suooeeds Abcrcn>mbic. — I : tlM 

campaign. ^ 



TICONDEROGA, CROWN POINT, AND NIAGARA. 73 

12. Ticonderoga was abandoned by the French without a 
struggle, on the 26th of July. Crown Point surrendered soon 
afterwards, and was occupied by Amherst, who strengthened its 
defences by the erection of a strong and impregnable fortress. 
Prideaux appeared before Niagara on the 17th of July, and, 
having been mortally wounded on the same day by the bursting 
of a gun, was succeeded in command by General Johnson. The 
garrison, in expectation of reinforcements, held out for three 
weeks. On the 25th, however, after a severe conflict, the fort 
and its dependencies were compelled to surrender, notwithstand- 
ing the accession of an additional force of nearly three thousand 
French and Indians. 

13. General Wolfe, with eight thousand troops, landed, on the 
27th of June, upon Orleans Island, a few miles belov/ Quebec. 
The town was strongly defended by the French troops, and its 
approaches were held by Montcalm in person at the head of the 
main army. After several ineffectual efforts to gain possession 
of the city, it was determined, at a council of war, to attempt the 
Heights of Abraham, a level plateau, three hundred feet above 
the water, in the upper part of the town. ■«• 

14. At sunrise on the morning of the 13th of September the 
whole English army stood in battle array upon the plains in 
front of the heights, and being immediately confronted by the 
French, a general and fierce battle ensued. Wolfe, severely 
wounded, led the van, and at the head of his men received 
another bullet in his breast, which compelled his removal to 
the rear. Monckton, who succeeded him in command, was also 
mortally wounded, and replaced by Townshend. Montcalm also 
fell, and the order for retreat was given by the French. Amid 
the shouts of victory, and the acclamations of the conquerors, 
Wolfe's gallant spirit passed away at about the same time with 
that of his heroic but defeated opponent. On the 18th the city 
was formally surrendered to the English. :^ 

15. Montcalm's successor, Levi, made an ineffectual 

1 7fiO 

effort, in the spring of the succeeding year, to recapture 
Quebec ; and on its failure the French forces under Vaudreuil 



Capture of Ticonderoira, Crown Point, and Niagara. — Siege of Quebec. 
— Death of Wolfe and Montcalm. — Surrender of the city. 



74 FOURTH PFJiWD, 

were concentniteU for the dcfcucc of .\f out real tjirly m >t'j>- 
temlwr, Amherst arrivoil U-fore the city ut the hcjid of ten 
Uiousaml tRK.j»s ; Jolmstui followetl with u thousaiul Indian 
warrit>rH, Murray with four thoutuuid trooiju from Quebec, ami 
Colonel Huvihuul with three thi»u«uul from Crowu I'oint 

IG. Vautlrvuil, cunHcioua t»f his inahility to roKist this for- 
roidahle force, on the 8th of SiptemU'r, si^ied a aipitulation 
surremlering Montrvul tuiJ all other French |)otit8 in Cauada. 
It waa not, however, until ITG.'J — the internal having been 
B|H.'nt in luival warfare, where the Kn^litth were almiwit uni- 
formly Hucccuhful — tliut a definitive treaty of i>eaoe ln'tween 
the two nationii wa« conclude*!, l»y which France cethtl to Eng- 
land all her Ameriaui iHMMeHMionH. 

17. On the morninir of the 30th of Julv, 17C0, Lieutcn- 
■ ant-(Joven»or Ik* Ijincey wau found dead in his study, fr 

the efTtvts of a chronic "T- '•. nntl the yovenmient devol . 

upon the venemhlo C'adm.. ....-.« i ('«»ltlen, now seventy three yc.n^ 

of ai^e. (Jovenior (olden luul long l»een intimately familiar 
with puhlic atVuirii, and jx.KHeK«e*l MU|jerior litemr}- and adminis- 
trative ahilitieK. He entered ujon his new duties, however, at a 
most critical |>erio<l in the histor)' of the province and of the 
nation, and found himself utterly incn|ial>le of resisting the pro- 
gress of events tending nipidly to the dissolution of tlu- rxisting 
form of govennnent. 

18. His admini'-»»~'''"n was temjM»rarily int^-miptod 

*'^*' in (K'tolter of the 1 i»g year l»y the arrival of a c*)m- 

misaion for Genenil Holiert Monekton, then commanding a mili- 
tary force on Staten IhUuuI. His public announcement on the 
assumption of his duties, that ho had no instructions, and ho|>ed 
never to have any, was highly acceptable to the iK-<.ple. Iho 
new AssiMubly gave him a wann n^rption.and the usual honors 
were conferre<l u|»on him. 

19. His adniiniHtmtion opened under th» m-t favorublo 
auspices, had he only the ability and the diM - fion to profit 
by them. The Kurdish Govenmufit had • i to the colo- 

uies many of the rights so long and pert usly withheld, liad 

Cspturv of Montreal. — Naval warfare. — Trcair of peace. — Death of 
C r I)c Lancty. — AiliniuiAiralion of Cadwalladcr Cokko and Mobcrt 



THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR, 75 

abandoned its demands for a permanent revenue, and had left 
them in most respects, financial and otherwise, to their own 
guidance. Occasional aggressions on their rights were still in- 
flicted and impatiently endured ; and judicious legislation and 
prudent administration alone were requisite to have insured 
permanent peace and continued union. 

20. The independence of the Judiciary was, soon after his ac- 
cession, threatened by the appointment of Pratt, a law^yer of Bos- 
ton, as the successor of Chief- Justice De Lancey, to hold his office 
" at the King's pleasure," instead of as formerly " during good 
behavior." The Assembly regarded this innovation as inconsist- 
ent with the rights and liberties of the province. Monckton 
himself disapproved of it, and even Golden advised against it ; 
and Pratt, while accepting the office, was forced to concede and 
keenly to feel the repugnance of the people to the proposed 
tenure. The Presbyterians and Congregationalists were also 
jealous of the favor shown by the officers of the Crown to Epis- 
copacy, especially in the government of the college, which was 
placed under Episcopal direction. 

21. The Assembly having refused to provide for the 
salary of the Chief- Justice, unless he should receive an 
independent commission, the Board of Trade advised that the 
income for the royal quit-rents should be applied to this object. 
This course was accordingly adopted, and the Judiciary were 
subjected to the power and influence of the Crown, who named 
the judges, removed them at pleasure, fixed their salaries and 
paid them from funds beyond the control of the colonial legis^ 
lature. 

The independence of the Judiciary assailed. 




.. • 11 



wr* al Nc ' 



Firni n iMoi). 



77/ A' UKVULUTWyMiY WMi. 



Thb St a Mr Act. — Fim«T Coi.. 
Sir IlKikMT M' 



CHArTKIi I. 



: i I 

• !. 1 



^'"m or LiBeRTT. — 



1. 
1763. 



The n-l i' - uMh, tiur.: . i itrjiKi ot ujiwani.s «j| u ecu- 
tun*, iiuci cxi^tcti lictwciru the AmericAii coIouicM ' 
the KnjLrhMh (ioveniinent, luid lx?cn jjenenilly of a peace- 
ful nntiire. With the < * i of occoMidiml renumRtmnces 
on the jMirt of the repn ^cniativo AsscnihlieH of tlie pmvinces 
npiitmt varions enartmcntj* of ParHament, am! re^nihitioii of the 
lJ<»anlH of Tnuk*, aflci-tin;; injurioiiHly the manufjwtiircs, r — 
inercf, and navipition of the colonien, an nnintemipte«i sjn.; 
of loyalty prevailed anion^ them, and voluntan* eontrihuti- 7i"< 
of men and money were cheerfully and promptly fuminiuU 



I 



Relation between the culonic* and the 



gOTOnUDCOL 



THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 77 

whenever the miHtary exigencies of the parent government ren- 
dered such aid necessary or desirable. 

2. The imposition ujDon them of forms of government and 
executive officers not of their own choice, or without in any 
manner consulting their wishes or inclinations ; the vexatious 
restrictions upon their domestic and foreign trade by the pro- 
hibition, except under high duties and onerous regulations, of 
the importation and exportation of articles necessary to their 
prosperity and welfare ; and various arbitrary and tyrannical en- 
actments, affecting their civil, religious, and social rights and 
privileges, had hitherto failed sensibly to weaken their regard 
for the institutions and their attachment to the government 
with which they had so long been familiar. But the time had 

i finally arrived when j)atience and unquestioning submission to 
the increasing exaction of arbitrary power had ceased to be vir- 

j tues. Their experience in self-government, and the gradual 
growth among them of a representative democracy, had pre- 
pared them for the firm and manly assertion of their rights, 
and tauQ'ht them the value of freedom. 

3. Their prompt and lavish expenditure of blood and treasure 
during the war just closed had materially contributed to pro- 
duce for the mother country a vast and valuable accession to 
her territory in America, and to expel from her possessions the 
enemy who had apparently obtained so firm a footing. Thirty 
thousand of the bravest soldiers of the colonies, and a debt of 
thirteen millions of pounds, had been the price ungrudgingly 
paid for the conquests which had added such signal lustre to 
the Crown of Great Britain. The arrogant and insatiable de- 
mands of a tyrannical government, however, required addi- 
tional sacrifices, and nothing less than the abject concession of 
unlimited powers over their persons and property would satisfy 
the haughty ambition of the English aristocracy. 

4. Notwithstanding the repeated and persistent refusal 
of the provincial Assemblies to recognize the right of the 
English Parliament to imjDose taxes upon them without their 
own consent, Lord Grenville, then at the head of the British 
Ministry, submitted, in 1764, a proposition for the raising of 

Restrictions upon commerce and navigation. — Sacrifices of the colonies, 
and demands of the government. 



78 FIFTH PFRion. 

n pcrmnncnt revenue upon the coioaiea, by the cstnhliKhmrnt 
of Htauip tiutie«, ami taxation of various articK-H i»f ft»n«i;;n j'l • 
ducc. Diirinj^ the Ri'Siiions of tiiat and the Huccce<lin^ veur va 
riouB enactniont« were nmdc in conft»rniitv with theiio 8iijlo;i'»- 
tionii; and in c«»nten)j>tU(>UHdi8re«^ni of thceumeMt renu>nHtraii< <■ 
of the e«»I«mic'H, the cflel»nitod Stamp Act wau jMuwod o\\ 
*"" the 22d of March, ITO.'i, to take effect on the first .1 
NoveniU'r submxnu'ntly. 

5. By the provittious of this act all legal and in ^ ' ' I' 
docuinentM and ct>ntmctii, newMiNi{M*r% pMnphletA, all 

wen? retpiired to I* written or printo<l on iitam|Kil iJ-ij-tr, u{H<n 
which a thity wtui to lie im|»o<»«l inyahle to othcon* a)»|M*ii)tod hy 
the C'n>wn. Itn pnMu*' -n creatcni a jroneral ftfhiig of indig- 
nation thnnighout the coitjiue*, «cooni|«ttnie<i hy a di>t^>nnination, 
at all hazaniis to reniKt or ermlo it* enfon-onienu In New York 
the ohnoxiouM act wan puhhcly }ianui(*<l through tlie 8trvot« of 
the city, with a dentli'M hetul athxeil, liearing the Hipiifictuit in- 
Hcription, ** The Folly of Kngland, and the Huin of America.** 
Similar demonHtrationii were mode in llodton, rhiladelphia, and 
other printM|iid citiet and townii. 

6. (hi the 7th of OctoU-r the FiRST CnUj.NiAL C'oxoRERS, con- 
sisting of twenty-eight delegat<»« from nine colonies, amemhled 
at New York, and n • ^1 in nofwion for two weckH. The IkxIv 
was presided over !•> i luiothy Uugirh^ of MaiMitrhuMettH, and 
of^er mature con«i<leration adopto*! a I>cclamtion of Highta, 
drawn up by John Ouger of New York ; a calm and tem|>er- 
nte, but firm and decide*!, stntcment of grievances in the form 
of a Memorial to Parliament, jm^jiare*! by Holicrt XL Livingston, 
also of New York; and a Petition to the King, by James Otis 
of Mastmchusetta.. 

7. Theiie documents asserted the inalienable right of the in- 
habitants of the several cidonies to all the privilege's of free- bom 
Knglishmen ; the protection of life, lilwrty, pn»|»erty, and per- 
son ; exemption fri»m all taxes, restrictions, and im|w»sts not 
x'oluntarily ft«iume«l by themsohes or assented to by their n»p- 
rcscntativca freely chosen ; and denounced in glowing terms the 

pMMce of iIm? Stamp Act, — It« ircrption in the colonics. — Pror. 
lit New York. — rnir»T<lin{:« of the fimt Coloninl ('oiiirrp*«. — Iw n 
lion and offloerk — Declaration of Kight« and Meoiorisl to Parliament 



THE STAMP ACT. 79 

continued and systematic invasion of these rights and privileges, 
under pretence of law, by a body in which they were wholly 
unrepresented. Protesting their unimpaired confidence in the 
wisdom and justice of Parliament, and their earnest desire for a 
continuance of the friendly relations hitherto existing between 
the two countries, they respectfully demanded the repeal of the 
obnoxious acts complained of, and the discontinuance in future 
of all similar arbitrary legislation. 

8. On the 1st of November, the day on which the Stamp 
Act was to go into effect, the shops, stores, and public offices 
of the city were closed ; the flags of the vessels in the port 
w^ere floating at half-mast ; the bells of the several churches 
were tolled, and numerous other manifestations of the public 
discontent and sorrow were displayed. All business was sus- 
pended, the courts were closed, and the city was clothed in 
mourning. Meanwhile the obnoxious stamps had reached the 
city, and been deposited in the fort for safe-keeping by the 
direction of Governor Golden, who had recently succeeded 
Monckton in the administration of the province. 

9. McEvers, the agent appointed by the Grown for the distri- 
bution and sale of the stamps, intimidated by the manifesta- 
tions of the popular feeling on every hand, had resigned his com- 
mission ; the association of the " Sons of Liberty," headed by 
Isaac Sears, John Lamb, Alexander McDougall, Francis Lewis, 
Marinus Willett, and other patriotic leaders, had been revived, 
and an engagement entered into by the merchants generally to 
cease all importation of goods from Great Britain while the act 
remained in force. Handbills were circulated throughout the 
city, warning all people against the purchase or use of stamps at 
their peril. 

10. In the evening two organized companies, under the lead 
of the Sons of Liberty, paraded the streets, one of which pro- 
ceeded to the Gommons, the site of the present Gity Hall, 
where they suspended an effigy of the Governor with the 
stamped paper in his hands, and other contemptuous devices ; 
while the other proceeded to the fort with another effigy of the 
obnoxious Governor, broke open the stable of his residence, and 



Arrival of the stamps. — The 1st of November. — Proceedings of the 
Sons of Liberty. — Demonstration of the Sons of Liberty. 



80 FIFTH PFRIOD, 

taking from it his carria^ nnd, placing: in it the effigy, returned 
in triumph to tlicir asj>ocijites ou the Common*, from whence, 
co!i8ohduting their rauka, thev t^>ok up their march in Htriot 
onlcr and unhroken bilence to the fort. 

11. Here they found the tnH>|i»i, under the command of (ien- 
eral (iuge, drawn up on the nuu{iurt for their nnreption, and tho 
muzzlcH of the cuiuion uinieil directly iit Uieir nuikii. The Brit- 
ish r«»nuuundfr, however, pru<Ji ntlv rcuerveil his fire ; uml the 
pn.»cf.H.sion, Iteing denietl luhn. .a to the fort, re|»aire*l to tho 
lUiwhn;; ttreen, tore down the wooden {uUiKades, and contente*! 
tlu-niMclveH with huniing tlto carriage with its ethg}* und other 
accxini|>animents. Some of tlieir more violent niMi»ciates, dis- 
rvgunling the remonstrancoH of their commdes, procei^ltMl to tho 
ri'Hidcncv of Major Jiuuen, a liritish ofhccr, w h«» had rendered him- 
hvlf ohnoxious to the |>opulace, broke o|>cn and rifled the houiM.\ 
ami l»un»« d tlio funutun- rarr\ini' nff the n»val standard in 
trmniph. 

\'l. Tho next evening tho i . ni 1. i it li.. Com- 

numH with the intention of i _ »ltack u|Km tho fort 

and gaining iH.s-rs^i.»ii of the Htam)Htl |Mt|»er. CJovenior I'ohlen, 
however, am. , - i their action on this fK-rnxion hy sendini: a 
communication to the city authorities, «i ug his ii a 

not to issue any <»f the istani|m while he renuiine*! in office. Not 
content with this assurance, another demon»tration was inwlo 
on tho ensuini; evcnitvL'. and tho (Jovonior. hnvin^' f.\WA in his 
efforts to pbice the - , -^ under i , . .cred 

them up in fhip fonn to the Mayor and Corjioration, uking from 
them a I . f«.r their wife keeping. This procee«hng quieUni 
the fM.pular leaders for the time, and rwitored order to the city. 

l.i. In the niejin time, the Committee of C«»rres|M.ndence, ap- 
pointinl by tho t -. thn»ugh their Chairman, John I^amli, 

Imd addn-H«e<l circular letters to the menhants of the sister- 
cities of the c<.l<»nieH, inviting their c<>oj>eration in the non-in- 
terc<»ur!*e jKilicy, which wa-s promptly accede<l to by all. They 
had also dnifte<l articles for a general union and confe<lcration 
of the colonies in resistance to the arbitnirv measures of tli- 



AitJM'k on lh< fort. — Hiotouu pn* -. — Gorcmor ' 

up ' o. — General non-intcrcuuiM: o^^TocinenL — Arucici ut cuuicU- 



THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 81 

Crown, and providing for the assembling of a general Congress 
in the event of persistence in these measures. These articles 
were also unanimously approved and adopted. 

14. A new supply of stamps soon after arrived in the prov- 
ince, with the new Governor, Sir Henry Moore, and Peter De 
Lancey, Jr., who had been appointed stamp distributor in the 
place of McEvers. The Governor having peremptorily declined 
any interference with the obnoxious stamps, they were depos- 
ited with the others in the City Hall, and De Lancey advised 
by a committee of the Sons of Liberty to follow the prudent 
example of his predecessor, with which he was fain publicly to 
comply. A similar course was pursued towards a I^Iaryland 
official who had sought the protection of Governor Golden, and 
taken shelter on Long Island. 

15. The new Governor met with a favorable reception from 
the citizens and the public authorities, who were highly pleased 
with his liberal views and ready concessions to the popular 
sentiment. The Assembly which convened on his arrival con- 
firmed the proceedings of their delegates in the Colonial Congress, 
and adopted resolutions in favor of the policy inaugurated by 
that body. About the same time, Captain Christian Jacobsen, 
of the ship Hope, arrived from Holland, having refused to bring 
over additional stamps. 

1 6. The Sons of Liberty, on information that stamps designed 
for Connecticut were concealed on board the vessel bringing 
over the Governor, instituted a vigilant search ; but finding that 
they had been transferred to another vessel, repaired on board 
and took ten packages from the hold, which they conveyed to the 
ship-yards and burnt. They also resorted to the most vigorous 
measures for the repression of all sales of stamped paper within 
the province. 

17. So odious had the act become in all the colonies, 
and so determined and effective was the opposition to 

its enforcement, that its repeal was procured on the 20th of 
February of the ensuing year, at the instance of the Marquis of 

Ai-rival of Sir Henry Moore as Governor. — New supply of stamps. — 
Proceedings of the Sons of Liberty. — Reception of the Governor. — Pro- 
ceedings of the Assembly. — Vigilance of the Sons of Liberty. — Repeal of 
the Stamp Act. 

6 



g2 HFIII I'FMini). 

Kockiii;;iiam, ftr. - -inie<l, however, by a doclAratonr act affirm 
iijg the right «»1 i uiiiuiueut to tiix the colouiw* for auy puri-- 
what.sf>over. It« re|K»al wiu» haile<l in the city with occluiuui. .i.- 
of tioiight, and received with the utiuoet tuitiafuctiou by all tht 
coK»uieH. 

18. IWlli* were ruujf, cannon fired, bonfires kindled, a public 
dinner ^iven by the civic uuthoritieA, and the city illiuniimted 
in honor of the event. On the 4th of June following:, the jia- 
triotM n;,niin tuwenibliHl on the Commons in honor of the Kind's 
birthduv. and, aAer the most enthusiastic manifcHtutions of 
loyiilty, raised, near where the present City HiUI stnnds, a 
I.iiiKRTY I'nu; OD which wcro inscrilHxl the words, "The Kin^, 
I'iit. and Lilvrtv." In def« i>' - '-f this standanl, tlir first bliHHl 
of the iCevolutioD was 8t»"n . d tn 1k' Khtnl. 



CHAPTKU II. 
Tax oh Tba. — Tiic T.inEiiTT Potr. — S)!«s or I.ininTT. — Gov 

|.K!<OR C'0LDL!(. — JoilM I.AMB ASU AlCXAXDBB McDoCOALL. 

1. DrRiNO the month »»f Juno a slmrp contnivcrsy was nmin- 

tained lietwecn the (tovemor and the Asscmblv in rcf 
erencc to the supplies rw]uircd to l*e furnished by the citi 
fens of New York to the troo|js under the comrnnir? of (Irticnd 
(f«^, stationcil in the city, nominally for its j ; \\. The 

spirit of op|K»sition mnnifi-stiil by th«' Ansi-mbly to the donmnds 
of the (Jovi'mor wos vip»rously socon<h'd by the people, and 
fretjuent colliMons fn>m time to time occurred l>etw**on the occu- 
]iiuits of the Imrrnoks on the Commons and the more violent 
of the imtriotic leaders. 

2. On the ni^'ht of the l(»th of Auto»Ht a party of w.Miers 
fn»m the l»arraoks cut d^w-n the LiU^rtv Pole erect^vl on the 
Commons, and on the si. .m^ day . .«"<l and d da 

party of the citizens wlm had assembled to replace it, seriously 

- 

\\. * in the coloniwi. — 1' - crlcbmtionn. — Bir> T • -r 

T'..'.-. — utntrorenics between I — ' ' « «- — iuc i*iw»ijr 

I'uiC cut down. — DItturbsncei i : - ««ni. 



THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 83 

wounding several of their number, among whom were Isaac 
Sears and John Berrien, prominent members of the Sons of 
Liberty. Although this violent proceeding of the soldiers was 
justified by their officers, the patriots were allowed to replace 
the pole a few days afterwards, without further molestation at 
that time. 

3. On the 23d of September, however, the pole was again cut 
down, and again replaced on the next day by the inhabitants. 
This persistent determination of the citizens induced the Gover- 
nor to prohibit all future attempts of the like nature on the 
part of the soldiery, and the most stringent measures were 
adopted by both the civil and military authorities to prevent 
their repetition. 

4. The refusal of the Assembly to comply with the requisi- 
tions of the Governor for the provision of supplies for the mil- 
itary brought down upon them a severe censure from the 
Crown ; and a spirited reply on their part was followed by a 
temporary prorogation. Rumors, however, of warlike prepara- 
tion in England, and the menaces and persuasions of the Gover- 
nor, induced them finally to consent to an additional appropria- 
tion, which, while it inciuTcd the strong disapprobation of the 
patriotic party, failed to conciliate the Government. The legis- 
lative powers of the Assembly were suspended by Parliament, 
and instructions forwarded to the Governor prohibiting his 
assent to any act passed by them until a full compliance with 
the demands of the Crown should be obtained. 

5. That body, however, disregarding the injunctions ^^^^ 
of the English Government, and supported by the gen- 
eral approval of the popular voice in their own and the neigh- 
boring colonies, continued their sessions as usual, and adopted 
strong resolutions declaring the arbitrary proceedings of Parlia- 
ment suspending their legislative functions unconstitutional and 
void. Meanwhile Parliament, on the motion of Charles Towns- 
hend, Chancellor of the Exchequer, had unanimously passed 

^a bill, early in 1767, imposing duties on all tea, glass, paper, 
painters' colors, and lead imported into the colonies. 

Proceedings of the authorities. — Proceedings of the Assembly. — Sus- 
pension of legislative powers. — Resistance of the Assembly. — Tax on 
tea, &c. 



84 FIFTH PERIOD, 

6. This fresh invrusion of their n^'iiu and privil<^::rs cn^iit.-.l a 
renewed excitement in all the colonies. ComnittteeJi of e«"' 
spondeuco were e8tahlihhe<i thron^hont the provinccH by the en 
ergetic and vijrilant Sons of Lilxjrty in New York, and the iner- 
ohants of that city a;,':iin aK>«en)Med and iinanimouMly rt*newed 
the non-inii)ort«tion !i;:reenient, pleil-^^in^' theniaolveii to its strict 
observance during the continuance of the obnoxious duties. 

7. On the 18th of March, prt»vif>u« to the arrival of intelli- 
gence of the procoedinps of IWlianient, the annivenuir}* of the 
ref>eal of the Stninp Act wna cclebrate<l by the citizens with 
the utmost enthusiasm. On the succeedinj? ni^ht, however, X\\o 
Lilierty Pole on tho ( '<tmmons was a^iiu levelle<I to the ^rmund 
by the soldiery. Another and a more sulistuntial one, Bccure<i by- 
iron Inuds, was on the next day sot up in its place by the Sons 
of LilMjrty. Several incfTectual efftirts mere matle for it« de- 
strtiction, all of which wore countemcte*! by the vi^ihuico of 
its patriotic defendera. The (»rtieer8 of the pirrison finally in- 
terfered, and prevented the further continuance of these demon- 
strations. 

8. The Assembly having lie«n formally diseolrcd by 
the (iovemor in Febnuiry, 1 708, a new election was or- 

denxl, resulting in the retuni <»f representatives little less dia- 
|K>*«c«l to compliance with the demands of the ^rovemment than 
their prc<lcc<»Rs»»ni, On their meeting in October, in utter dis- 
regartl of the n>yal injunction, they o|)ened a correspondeni«- 
with the Massachusetts Assof"*'*^ warmly sympathizing with 
their misfortunes; antl after v :...^' a lil»enil appropriation f<ir 
supplies to the tmops rpiartere<l in the city, coupled with a 
aeries of resolutions strongly doolaratory of their righta, and 
denouncing their rrTtrativl infringement l.v T*?urliament, were 
dissolveil. 

9. On the 4th of Afiril, 1700, another new Assembly 
was convennl. ancl after renewing, at the earnest solici- 
tation of the Oovenior, the appropriation for military sup- 
j.he.s to the garrison, was prorogutnl. The Governor continued 
to exert his influence to the extent of his power for the repre*- 



Incliirnailnn of the rr»lonio«. — Pnw . . of the Soiii of fJbrrtr. — 

y i of n« • ;. — Hitjctrrd H!nrt« for the dwtru^ 

iioii ui UteLiUiij t<. — i iv^A:«.-Miu^ of like new Asmnblj. 



POPULAR EXCITEMENT IN NEW YORK. 85 

sion of all disloyal manifestations on the part of the inhabi- 
tants of the province and city ; but his well-meant efforts at 
conciliation were suddenly ended by his death, which took place 
on the 11th of September, devolving the government again 
upon Cadwallader Golden. 

10. The Assembly was again convened on the 21st of Novem- 
ber; and through a coalition between the Governor and his 
former inveterate opponent, De Lancey, an additional appro- 
priation of money for supplies was obtained. Inflammatory 
handbills were immediately circulated by the leaders of the 
popular party, openly charging the Assembly with a betrayal 
of the trust reposed in them by their constituents ; and a large 
assemblage of citizens gathered on the Commons on the 18th 
of December, presided over by John Lamb, denounced the pro- 
ceedings of the Assembly, and so far alarmed the members of 
that body and the Governor, that it was found necessary at 
the close of the session to force through, by a close vote, a 
bill for the issue of colonial bills* of credit to the amount of 
one hundred and twenty thousand pounds, the interest to 
be applied to the support of the colonial government, which, 
early in January, 1770, received the prompt approval of the 
Governor. 

11. In the mean time the Assembly, by a nearly 

1770. 
unanimous vote, denounced the handbills as libellous, 

and offered a reward of one hundred and fifty pounds for the 
discovery of their authors. Lamb was arrested and brought be- 
fore the House, where he boldly avowed the part he had taken 
in the proceedings of the public meeting, and justified it as the 
exercise of a right which, in common with every Englishman, 
he possessed. His associates among the Sons of Liberty fear- 
lessly seconded his appeal, and avowed their approval of, and 
participation in, his acts, and their readiness to meet the con- 
sequences. This spirited behavior procured their discharge. 
Alexander McDougall, to whom the authorship of the handbills 

Death of Governor Moore. — Golden resumes the government. — Coali- 
tion with De Lancey. — Vote of supplies to the troops. — Indignation of 
the people. — Inflammatory handbills. — Public meeting. — Passage of bill 
for issue of colonial bills of credit. — Arrest of Lamb. — Imprisonment of 
McDougall. 



86 FIFTH I'FnrOD. 

was traced, was arrested and imprisoned, when, for nearly two 
montliM, he wruj dailv visitt'd bv cruwda t»f hiit frieuds of l)oth 
Bexes, who repirded him as a martyr to the aiusc of hlx-rty, 
and wlicre he remained untU, on indictment by the grand jury, 
he was admitted to buil in the ensuing April 



CHATTKU III 

nArri.K or Golokx Hill. — Dbmoutioji or the LineuTT Poi.t. — 
Nox-Imi-ohtatiom Aumckmext. — I^>iti> DiMtMoas. — Bills or Ckbd- 
IT. — McDoi'OALL AJio Gkokob Clixtox. 

1. On the evening of the 13th of January a renewed attack 

waa made uiM>n the I.iliertv Pule bv a party of tk>ldier8 
l>i>lon^n^ to the pirrihon. Indi^aiant at their failure to 
nccom|ili.Hh ita overt hn>w U>fore an alarm wan given, and smart- 
ing under the hii«*eji and ji-en* of the citueuK L-nthered in fnmt 
of Montainiie's taveni, the heiuU|uarterM of ih - us of Lilierty 
in the immetluito vicinity of the Commona, they commenced a 
furious attack u|Mm the crowtl, driving them into the house with 
their Itayonets, and, sword in hand, procee<lcd to demolish tht> 
wimlows atif! ftjniiturc of the building, after which they n'tinnl. 

2. An 'Ual nttomiit was made on the evening of (he 
1 '>th to cffvct the dcii. u of the fxtpular ■tandard, but nirwu 
without suroeHs, The next evening, however, they acconi] i 
their object, levellin;; the pole to the gnuind, sawing it int<> 
]>u-roM, and piling them triumphantly in front of the hotel. The 
people were arouJHxl bv th«^ discovers* of this outrage, and a pul>- 
lic meeting of the c; was hastily convened at the Com 
mons on the montin^ of the 17th. 

3. Several thousands of the inhabitants of the city promptly 
reeponde<l to this call, and at noon the Commona were thronged 
by an excited multitude, while a party of seamen scounnl the 
docks, piers, and warehouHes, where the soldiers were employeti 
as lalx>rcra, and com])eUed them to al»andoD their occu]iation 

Biotons pTDT of the «. — TVmoHtion of th« Liberty Pole. — 

Exciteuw&t of toe pssjpkt. — i uuuc meeting of the riiixen*. 



THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 87 

and return to their quarters. Resolutions were passed censur- 
ing in the strongest terms the riotous conduct of the soldiery, 
denouncing their presence in the city as unnecessary and dan- 
gerous, and discountenancing their employment by the citizens 
when off duty as detrimental to the interests of the laboring 
class. All soldiers appeariug armed in the streets, or found out 
of their barracks after roll-call, were directed to be dealt with 
as enemies of the city. 

4. On the ensuing day (January 18) two soldiers were ar- 
rested by Isaac Sears and another of the Sons of Liberty in the 
act of posting an inflammatory handbill prepared by their com- 
rades, and conducted to the Mayor's office, where they were 
immediately followed by a party of twenty soldiers armed with 
cutlasses and bayonets, who demanded the immediate release of 
the prisoners. This demand was promptly resisted by Captain 
Richardson and other citizens, who defended the entrance and 
ordered the return of the soldiers to their barracks. 

5. The crowd collected in front of the Mayor's office had, in 
the mean time, provided themselves with stakes from the carts 
and sleighs in the vicinity, and seemed not indisposed to meas- 
ure their strength with their armed opponents in the impending 
contest. In apparent obedience to the orders of the Mayor the 
soldiers retired, closely followed by the citizens, as far as the 
summit of Golden Hill, as John Street was then called, between 
William and Cliff Streets. Here they were joined by a rein- 
forcement from the upper barracks on the Commons, headed by 
an officer in disguise. He immediately ordered a charge upon 
the people, who, with the exception of a few in possession of 
clubs, were entirely unarmed. They succeeded, however, by 
their numbers^ in steadily resisting the furious attack of the 
soldiers, and impeding their apparent return down the hill to 
the Mayor's office, until they were hemmed in by another body 
of soldiers from the upper barracks, while a third approached to 
the relief of their comrades from the fort. 

6. The three parties, consolidating their forces by the junc- 
tion of a portion of the assailants who had forced their way 

Resolutions adopted. — Arrest of soldiers by the Sons of Liberty. — Pro- 
ceedings at the Mayor's office. — Attempt at recapture of the prisoners by 
their associates. — Battle of Golden Hill. 



88 FIFTH PFRIOl). 

through the unarmed crowd of cjtj/onii, commenced a furious 
fittuck ujxm the latter, severely wounduig several of their num- 
Iter. OtherH, including women and children, not pnrtiei{MitinL'' 
in the uHniy, were cut down and Itayonetetl, though none wer«' 
mortally injured, and it wum not until Momc time had ela|Med that 
the contest vms jirreiitcd bv the interference of the otiiccrs of 
the garrison. 

7. On the cniiuing day tiie soldiem reconjmciiced tiitir as 
BiiuItH hy thnwting a bayonet through the dret» of u woman r> 
turning from market. AUmt noon a {larty of Hailont were 
: " ^e«l at the head of (*ha|N;l Street, now Park Ilow, op|iu«ito 
ix i rwiuan Street, and one «»f their numltiT wan run through thr 
Ixxly. In the nucUt of the conflict the Xlayor made hin a|>- 
pearancc, and attemptetl, without fiuccc«M, to diK|)ense the infu- 
riate<l soldi' "^ Ho then des|)atehed a mesaagc to the ofhcerH 
at the Uin... rv-., but the m»--- '-rvr wiw intereeptod by the 
troops, who n'fuHed to suffer j..... to pnK,*ee<i. A |»arty of the 
Sons of Lilwrty, however, who had l)ecn engaged at playitii: 
ball iu tlio ueighlwrhood, came to the rciicue and dispensed titi> 
soldiers. 

8. In the afternoon another afTray occnmxi l»etween tho sol- 
diery and citizens on the Commons. The "Liberty lUiys" again 
ap|)earcd in force, and after a severe conflict Bucccc<ied in driv- 
ing the aamilanta to their barrackn, after disanning a portion 
of their numlwr, severely wounding others, and capturing and 

imprisoning one of the leaden in the affair of tiie pr ^x" 

day. 

9. Thus torminate<l the earliest content in which l»lood was 
shed, which ushered in the American licvolution ; and although 
no live* are known to hare been lost, yet the finn stand ma<le 
by tho niiias of the citireuK, nnirmrd «nd undiscipline<l, against 
an anne<l and trainotl 1 . ..ery im|K)sed upon thorn 
against thoir will, sufhricntly = 1 to indicate the irropressiblo 
spirit which animato<l the ct>lnni??t?L nnd to warn thoir haughty 
oppressors of the dnniror of j o in thoir fatal r^lifv. 

1(J. Cfovemor < .in hisdosjiatrhos to tho KtvI • vem- 

ment, detailing tho events we Imve related, at; -d their oo* 



Rrnrwnl of the c«»nflirt. — Iu icrmioatioD by the Liberty Boyt. — Gov- 
«nor Cokiea'sdefpatcbei. 



THE SONS OF LIBERTY. 89 

currence to the violence of party faction, promoted by the ene- 
mies of the Crown, chiefly Dissenters or Independents from New- 
England of republican principles, while the friends of Govern- 
ment were chiefly connected with the English, Lutheran, and 
Dutch churches, with a sprinkling of Presbyterians. The re- 
pugnance of the popular leaders to the demands of the Crown 
for the support of the soldiers is specially adverted to, and high 
commendation bestowed upon the officers and magistrates for 
their exertions in quelling the disturbances. 

11. The petition of the Sons of Liberty for permission to erect 
another Liberty Pole in the place of the one cut down having 
been refused by the Common Council, Lamb and his associates 
purchased a site near the former one, and on the 6th of Febru- 
ary planted it firmly, with the inscription " Liberty and Prop- 
erty," amid the acclamations of the people and the cheering 
strains of music. The Sons of Liberty established their head- 
quarters on the present site of the Herald office, in a building 
to which they gave the appropriate name of Hampden Hall. 

12. On the 29th of March a final attack was made upon the 
Liberty Pole by the soldiers who were about embarking for 
Pensacola, whither they were desirous of transporting a portion 
of its timber as a trophy. The Liberty Boys speedily rallied to 
its defence, driving its assailants to their barracks. Reinforced, 
the party, fifteen in number, returned with forty of their com- 
rades, and charged the citizens, who retreated to their hall, 
which was immediately surrounded by the soldiers, and an en- 
trance by force attempted, with infuriated demmciations of ven- 
geance. The alarm-bell was rung, the citizens flew to arms, and, 
apprehensive of a recurrence of the conflict at Golden Hill, the 
officers of the garrison hastened to withdraw their forces. The 
troops embarked on the 3d of May without their coveted 
prize, which remained thenceforth unmolested until the occupa- 
tion of the city by the British in 1776, when it was again lev- 
elled by the orders of the infamous Provost-Marshal Cunning- 
ham. 

13. Soon after the departure of the troops, the Sons of Lib- 
erty, learning of the visit of one Rogers, a Boston merchant. 

Erection of a new Liberty Pole. — Hampden Hall. — Renewed attack upon 
the Pole. — Its successful defence. — Its final fate. 



90 FIFTH PFRWD. 

who Ihid l>ccn postcl l>y his fellow-citizens for a violation of tho 
non-imiwrtatioii nLrreenient, nml 8ii8|KH:ting his intentions, pa- 
nuk'd his etli<:y in pro«ossion throu^rh the streets, 8UR|»emie<l on a 
gallows, ami with four or tive thouJMiiul citizens prt^ceetled to his 
residence with the view of further honors. Kimling him absent, 
oiui being infomietl of his conteniplateii de|itirture for riiihulel- 
phia, they appristnl their brethren there of his intentions, re 
questing at their hands a worthy welcome. Rogers, however, 
deferre<l his visit, and retunieti terrified to lioston. 

14. The act of Tarliainent of 1707, inr • ' additional du- 
ties on the colonies, having l>eon re|>eide<i >>.iij ihe exception of 
the tux on tea, a general committee of one hundred of the lead- 
ing inhabitants of the city and province was fonned, and tho 
non imi»»rtati«>n atrreoment, so lung and so faithfully adb • -^ 
to by the merchants of New York at a hairy pecuniary sacr.;.., , 
was now rewtricttti to the single article of tea. The jintriotio 
Sons of i^iU'rty, however, and their a<lherent8 among the |K»pu- 
lar jmrty, ' ■ '"le*! to sn*- •• m this c*»mpn»mise, and continued 
their «>•• ■ n to the pi a. < .pie still involve<l in the act, not> 
with.Htiii.w..^' the diminution of the pecuniary deniiuid. 

IT). On the *jr)th of (>ctoU«r, ('olden was Bujwrsetled by Ix)rd 
Duiunore. The Assi'mbly was informeti of the royal approval 
of the bill for the issue of colonial bills of credit, and the re- 
newal of the n.'<piire<l apprr>priations for the 8Up|x»rt of the 
truofM. In January of the Buccee<ling year, M- T>-'Ugall 

was bnmght liefore that U^ly to answer to th<^ ; nent 

{tending against him. On his refusal to acknowl' ! ■ thn au- 
thorship of the alleged libel, he was rwpiired by ti. A - mbly 
to give a definitive answer. " The House has declare*! tho paper 
a liltel," he IhjIiIIv repii<^d, "nnd tho Inw docs not require mc to 
criminate royvrlf" 

16. Do N -. the | • utor, insist <h1 that the House had 

power to extort an answer and to punish him for contumacy. 
*' The House has power to throw tho prisoner over the l»ar or 
out of the window," olwcrvcd CJeorgo Clinton, the future (jot- 

Proceeding* of the Sons of IJberty on the Ti*it of a BoMon merrhant 
rhaructl with violation of tltc non-im|)ortJui«>n a^reoDent — Hrpral of 
duticA rxix<pt on tea. — Non-itn|M>rtation agrecmcni. — Lonl Dumaocv. — 
Procoodiugt against McDougali. 



THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 91 

ernor of New York, *' but the public will doubt the justice of 
the proceeding." A written answer having been refused, on the 
allegation that it reflected on the dignity of the body, the in- 
trepid Clinton indignantly exclaimed, " The dignity of the House 
would be better supported by justice than by overstrained au- 
thority." McDougall was recommitted to prison, where he re- 
mained but a short time before he obtained his release through 
the efforts of his friends. 



CHAPTER IV. 

Governors Trton and Golden. — Tax on Tea. — The "Mohawks" 
AND Sons of Liberty. — Boarding of the Tea-Ships. 

1. Lord Dunmore having been transfen-ed to Virginia, 
William Tryox was duly commissioned as Governor in his 
stead. On his arrival early in July, he was favorably received 
by the people, signalizing his accession, however, as did his prede- 
cessor, by a refusal to accept any income from the Assembly, 
preferring to rely for support exclusively upon his Majesty, and 
the disposition by the government of the colonial taxes. The 
quiet of the city and province remained undisturbed for a con- 
siderable period after Tryon's assumption of his duties, although 
the revolutionary spirit was rapidly increasing in depth and 
earnestness. 

2. The persistent refusal on the part of the colonies 
to import, purchase, or in any manner to use tea, the 
only remaining commodity on which an imposi> was demanded 
by the British Government, induced Parliament, on the urgent 
representations of the East India Company, to remit all export 
duties payable by the Company in England, and to insist only 
upon a tax of threepence per pound payable on its arrival in 
America. 

3. Large shipments of tea having been prepared for the colo- 
nies under the expectation that the trifling duties demanded by 

Governor Tryon's administration. — Tax on tea. 



92 FIFTH P Fill on. 

the new act wojild secure a nnuXy tale, the irreproamblc Sons of 
Lilierty a^in rallietl their forces, sternly pn)hibitinj^ the in- 
truductiuu uiuier any pretence of the obnoxious article, and 
(lelepitiu^ an association of their number, known as " Mo- 
luiwks," to suiHjrintend the arrival of sliips freighted wholly or 
in part with this cairgo. 

4. Alaniicil at thetM? decided demonstrations of the ]>opular 
leaders, the Tea-Comni'-^'-'M-rs apjiuinted for New York at 
once roKi^nie*! their con.;... . •ii'* : imd even the forcijni tea- 
merchants began to doubt tl»«. c\|>v-iirncy of »lu]>mcnts to the 

colonies ; but being reassureil by a renegade merchant of New 
York that all opftoiution wouhl Ik? promjitly «juelle«l by the new 
Governor, who was a man of dc !Hi..vi and energy*, they deter- 
mined to venture ufMm the ex)n . .... :it. 

r>. On the 27th of NovemUr the Sins of Lilwrty formally 
rencwinl their organization and adopted a series of spirited rc0o- 
bit ions, denouncuig as enemies to the lilierties of America any 
{wrson aiding or alwttini; in any way the introduction, pur- 
chase, or use of tea, and di-claring that whether the duties im- 
)>oHi>d by the act were paid in i*reat Britain or America, the 
hln-rties of the cohmies were e<|ually affecte*!. On the IGth 
of I)eceml>er, the same day on which the ll'>'?tnn tea-party 
t(x>k place, these resolutions were ligain promu^ 1 in inune- 
diate antici|iation of the IrindinL' r<f a cargo from Kngland. 
Governor Tryon made an iii 'rt to secure its intnxluc- 

tion by pronusing that after its fonnal reception the tea should 
be retuntcnl to the shijis ; but the excited inhubitaiitK, headed 
by John Lamb, unanimously refused to |iennit its landing. 

6. The ship, in the mean while, delayed by adverse 
winds, failcil to nmke her appeanuice ; and on the 7th of 
April of the ensuing year, Trj'on, leaving the g<»veniiuent again 
in the hands of Coltlen, set sail for Kngland. On the iSth the 
K»ng-ex|)ected ves.sel — the Nancy, Captain I>ockyer —- arrived 
off .Sandy Hcxik with a airgo of tea for the j)ort. The pilots, 
under the clirections of the Vigilance Committee, detainetl the 
ves.Hel in the Ix>wer Ilay, while several of the committee pro- 
cecnled on board and took possession. The captain was pcr- 

Spiritrd pri' ^ <ns of Liberty. <— CoMeo rMomei tbe admin* 

btnitiun. — Afrn«i<.'i !• '. 



TEA TROUBLES IN NEW YORK. 93 

mitted, under a strong escort, to consult with the consignee, 
who at once refused to receive the cargo, and advised its 
prompt return to England. 

7. On the 2 2d, Captain Chambers, a recreant New-Yorker, 
arrived in the harbor with the ship London, and was immediate- 
ly boarded by two of the members of the committee. On his 
assurance that he had no tea on board, and the exhibition of 
his papers, confirming this statement, he was permitted to pro- 
ceed to the city. On reaching the wharf, the vessel was again 
boarded by the committee, who demanded a thorough search 
for the obnoxious article. Driven to bay by their determined 
vigilance, Chambers finally admitted the possession of tea, al- 
leging, however, that it w^as his own on a private venture, and 
without the knowledge of the Company. At eight in the even- 
ing the vessel was again boarded by a vast crowd of the ex- 
cited inhabitants, the hatches forced open, eighteen chests of 
tea brought upon deck, opened, and their contents emptied into 
the river. No attempt at disguise or concealment was made ; 
and the people at an early hour quietly dispersed without fur- 
ther violence. 

8. The next morning, in pursuance of a call of the Vigilance 
Committee, the citizens assembled in front of the Coffee House 
in Wall Street, where Lockyer was lodging, and amid the 
ringing of bells, firing of cannon, display of flags, and the 
music of the city bands, conducted him to a boat at the foot 
of the street, whence, with his companion Chambers, under the 
escort of a less ceremonious committee, he w^as taken on board 
the Nancy, and, accompanied by the vigilant representatives 
of the popular feeling three leagues beyond Sandy Hook, they 
took a polite leave of their entertainers and proceeded on their 
outward voyage. 

9. On a meeting of the citizens on the 19th of May, in re- 
sponse to an invitation from the patriots of Boston for a re- 
newal of the non-importation agreement, a corresponding com- 
mittee of fifty-one of the leading inhabitants was formed, and a 
sub-committee, consisting of Alexander McDougall, Isaac Low, 



New York " tea-party. " — Proceedings of the Vigilance Committee and 
citizens. — Departure of the tea-ships. — Public meeting of citizens, —r 
Committee of fifty-one. 



94 FIFTH PERIOD. 

James Duane, and Jolui Jav, ap|K)mttii lu pnj iii answer to 
the liostouiuns. Thui conmuttee, tit'cming u r«.ucwiil of the 
non-im|x)rtati(>n ajn"ecmfnt inexi»c<iient under exiHtiii;; circum- 
stances, recommended a Cteneral CougreHS of deputies from the 
colonies for the consideration of public atVairs. At a public 
meetinj,' on the Cth of July, presided over by McDoi^jall, and 
at which Alexander II; •'•<n, then a youth of seventeen, and 
a student of King's ( . uuide his tirst appeanince as an 

orator, the uou-imporl4tu.,, ii^^Tccment was reneweil, notwith- 
standing the op{xi«itiou of the committee, their reoomniemhi- 
tiou of a C'oloniiil Congress adopted, and resolutions stn>ngly 
8ym|)uthi»ng with the ikistouiiais under the arbitrary tyranny 
of Kn^lund uimnimously piissed. 

lo. The Hocond tol(»nuU t'ongress accordingly assembled at 
Philailelphia early in Si'pteml»er, New York lieing represented 
by Philip Livingston, John AUop, Isaac Low, Jtuues Duane, 
and John Jay, apptiiuted by the committee of fifly-<jne, in con- 
junction with a Ci»mmittec of mechiuiics. This UMly lulopted 
a Declaration of itights and Privileges drawn up by Jay, pn*- 
te-t'<> ' figainst Htatiding aniiies and |iarliamentarA' taxation, and 
dc»...;..ij' the various iibn.-^i-'Us n. tn pojMcd since the acoessi(»n 
of the present moimrch ii. <>f their rights and uucou- 

Btitutii»nal. They idso leu^'U' i '; ves into a uon-im|M)rta- 

tion aAtwH-iation, pletlging th. : to import no gutMlu from 

Grrat Hritain or its de{>eK . . •^ untU the n-pcal of these a< • -. 
11. The Assembly, nlrlmugh a maj«»rity of its nnio 
bers could not lie pn : tirv^n to air«>rd their sanction 

to tho proceedings of the * . . < ikTess, addn>ssed, never- 
theless, a strong remonstnuioe to Parliament against its harsh 
and severe treatment of tiie colonies, in terms so distasteful to 
that ImhIv that the ministry* refuseil to receive it On tho 3d of 
April, 1775, the Assembly adjourned, and was never afterwards 
convoked. The first Pn»vincial (Vuigresa, consisting of delegates 
from the several counties, assembled in their stea<l on the Joth 
of April, and apfMtinted five doloirntes to the first Continental 
Congress, which convened at Pi. . phia in the ensuing moutli. 

Rccotnmonilation of a G«fK>nU < »«. — Second C'olonijU CongraM. — 

P- ion of Ki^hu. — Non-itn|M>r!.iU(in lesgve. — A«oiiblj. — Fint 

I'l^-.i...^ CongTCM. — First Cunuucnul Coogren. 



THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 95 

12. On the 22d of May the Provincial Congress, consisting of 
about seventy members, again convened at New York. Two 
regiments were authorized to be raised ; bounties were offered 
for the manufacture of gunpowder and muskets ; fortifications 
at Kingsbridge and the Highlands were projected, and Philip 
Schuyler and Richard Montgomery were recommended to the 
Continental Congress as Major and Brigadier Generals. After 
delegating their powers to a committee of safety they ad- 
journed early in Sej^tember. 

13. A short time previous to these events the seventy-four- 
gun ship Asia had been ordered from Boston and anchored off 
the Battery, with her guns pointed against the city. The re- 
moval of the troops to Boston, preparatory to a large reinforce- 
ment, rendered the erection of additional barracks in that city 
necessary, for which the mutinous inhabitants declined furnish- 
ing the requisite materials. New York was applied to for aid ; 
but the vigilant Sons of Libert}^ peremptorily forbade any ef- 
forts in that direction. A vessel was, however, fitted out for 
that purpose in the harbor ; and the patriots, headed by John 
Lamb, Marinus Willett, and Isaac Sears, resolved to seize the 
ship and prevent her voyage. The citizens were requested to 
provide themselves with a supply of arms and ammunition. 
Sears, the principal instigator of this daring movement, was ar- 
rested and brought before the Mayor, but, on his refusal to give 
bail, was committed. On his way to prison, however, he was 
forcibly rescued by the people, and conducted in triumph 
through the principal streets of the city. 

14. On the receipt, soon after, of intelligence of the battle of 
Lexing-ton, all business was at once suspended ; the patriotic 
Sons of Liberty took possession of the City Hall, distributed 
the arms and ammunition found there and at the arsenal 
among the citizens, a portion of whom organized a volunteer 
corps under the command of Samuel Broome, and assumed the 
temporary government of the city. They obtained possession 
of the Custom House, which they at once closed, laid an em- 
bargo upon the English vessels in the port destined for the 



Second Provincial Congress. — Arrival of the Asia. — Disturbances in 
the city. — Receipt of news of the battle of Lexington. — Proceedings of the 
Sons of Liberty. 



96 FIFTH FFIilOD. 

eftttern colonies, ftml rclievetl tliem of ei-lity thoiiaand pounds' 
worth of provisiuns and supplies for the Bntish amiv. 

1"). (hi the r>th i)f Mav, a I'mvisional (iovcniiuent, consist- 
ing of one hundred of the pr: uts, was or^ranized 
by the citizens, and the municij>;ki ulluii-h of the city placed 
under their al>«<»lute control until the Continental ronp-eiw 
should otherwise order. A huye body of tnH>|w Ix^ing on their 
way to the city, lJeutcnant-<jovcmor Coldon was soon after 
wards nxj' • 1 to u«o Iuh uiflueiico with Cleneral (Mi;r«?. then 
in « nu lu the city, to prevent their land The Con- 
gretts, liuwever, recon Ittl that |>ennisKion lur liieir lan<l- 
ing iihould not Itc wiuiiicid, while no fortiticutiun should l>e al 
lowed to be const nict*"*!, and all warlike st*ire« 1h? rcmovcil from 
the town, and a safo rctnmt provide«l for the women and chil- 
dren in the event of a sie^^. 

10. In the mean time the patriots umitr the direct jun uf 
their daring? leader, John I^imb, having procured a vt»ii8el from 

C'oiuiecticut, had taken po««csiiion of a 'ity of militjiry 

8U>res Itel * r to the n»yal troo|)»i, at iuitic IJtiy. near the 
foot of the j:—nt Forty -.Seventh Street on the Hudson, a 
portion of whah was defl{«itched to the anny at Cambridge, and 

the residue reserved for future use. Some other drr- .-.♦: ..^ 

of the popular feeling o<'curring soon after, the Pn*"! i-i-'uin < -u 
fjvM re<pieste<l (Jenenil Wooster to tiike up his heafl-<]uarteni 
near the city, where he accordingly, early in June, cncampe<l 
with his troops at Harlem. 

17. The rr)yal tn»t»j»ft, having been soon afterwarrls ordered to 
repair to lloston. were j>ennitt«xl by the I*rr>visionjil (Jovemment 
to dejwrt, with the sti{»ulation that they should take nothing 
with them but their own anus and accnutrements, Disregard- 
inir this express restriction, they proceeded to the place of em- 
liarkation in Bnxid .Street with a large quantity of military 
stores K»l«»niring to the city. Here, however, they were met by 
Colonel Murinus Willett and Jc»hn Morin Scott, who, notwith- 
standing the opposition of their leader and the remonstrancea 
of the Mayor and (louvcmcur Morn*. «b.i Himi-^aed full permis- 

IVoviMonal fiovcrnmrnt of ihc ciir. — r«trM»iic drmoastrstkms. — <^«|>' 
tuTv of n nt Turtle Hny. — Ck'tiiml Woottar eacampa at Har- 

lem. — LiuusTKatiuo »( the royal truopt fur Boston. 



ETHAN ALLEN AT TICONDEROGA. 97 

sion had been given by the authorities, succeeded with the aid 
of the citizens, who had by this time assembled, in turning them 
back, and regainmg the arms. Having secured the stores in a 
safe place, the soldiers were escorted to the wharf, where they 
embarked amid the hisses and execrations of the crowd. 



CHAPTER V. 

Capture op Ticonderoga and Crown Point. — Washington as- 
sumes Command of the Army. — Governor Tryon's Abdication. 
— Invasion or Canada. — Siege op Quebec and Death of Mont- 

G03IERY. 

1. On the morning of the 10th of May, 1775, Colonel 
Ethan Allen of Vermont, aided by Captain Benedict 
Arnold, having with a force of eighty-three men crossed over 
Lake Champlain from the Vermont shore during the preced- 
ing night, attacked the strong fortifications of Ticonderoga, and, 
after a brief conflict with the surprised garrison, demanded and 
effected its surrender "in the name of the Great Jehovah and 
the Continental Congress." One hundred and eighty-two can- 
non and a large quantity of military stores were captured with 
the garrison, as the result of this bold and daring enterprise. 
On the succeeding day, Colonel Seth Warner, of Vermont, ob- 
tained possession of Crown Point, with its garrison and a hun- 
dred and eleven pieces of artillery. This gallant enterprise 
seems to have been originally suggested by Colonel John Brown 
of Massachusetts. 

2. On the 25th of June, eight days after the battle of 
Bunker Hill, Washington, having been commissioned by the 
Continental Congress as Commander-in-Chief of the American 
armies, passed through New York on his way to his head- 
quarters at Cambridge, whither he was escorted by the provin- 
cial militia, and where, on the 3d of July, he assumed the com- 
mand. Trjron on the morning of the day Washington left the 
city resumed his official duties as Governor, and was accorded a 



Recapture of arms by the citizens. — Capture of Ticonderosra and Crown 
Point. — Washington assumes command of the army. — Return of Gov- 
ernor Tryon. 

7 



98 FIFTH PERIOD. 

favorable reception l>y tlio Muyor and Corpomtion ; ftltho»i;;h 
8uch was the cliani^ini K4.-iitimeiit of the city, that, while nom- 
inally accordinji; him all the n.'spcct due to his position, the 
Provincial (.'ou^fs-s in their midttt secured their ready and im- 
plicit olH-Hlicnce. 

3. Three thouwind men were ordered bv the Contincnt;d Con- 
press to be raiHt**! by the colony of New York as her quota 
of the troojjs for the public defence. Four rej^inienti* were ac- 
cordinjrly niiHe<I under the authority of the l*rt»vincial Ctjnjrresa, 
and phiced under the c<jmnmnd of t'olouel Alexander Mcliou- 
pUl, Gtrzon Van Schaick, Jiuneti Clinton, and Colonel Hidmes. 
John I^imb was ap{H>inted to the command of an artiller)' and 
MarinuM Wjllctt of an infantrv comitiuiv. Soars and others of 
the "Liberty lioys ** joint'^l the nuiks. 

4. The Provincial C<" '••■-<*, dcMirinp the ptms of the fort 
on the lUittvry for the ;-. ....nations of the Highlands, and re- 
(Oirdin;; thi*ir present |M)tiition as unfavorable to the |jatriotic 
cause, directe<l their remo\*al acconlin^:ly. Captain I^mb, on 
the ni^ht of the 23d of Au^ist, proceeded to the execution 
of this order with a |mrty of the Sons of Lilterty and a numlter 
of citizens, including Alexander Hamilton. While thus eu^n^l 
a shot was fire<l from a Ixirp; of the Khi|>-<if-war Asia, stationed 
Dear the shore ; and on the fire bein^ returned by Lamb, killing 
one of the crew and wounding several others, a heavy can- 
nonade was o|)ened \\\nn\ the town by the ship, inflirtiiig con- 
sitlerablo damage upon the buildiii;:M near the Dattery and 
severely woundin;; some of the inhabitants. The Lil»erty IWs, 
undiHmaye<l by this fonnidable attack, c<x»lly |)enievered in thrir 
Work until it was complete<l and the guns safely removed. 

5. The commander of tho Asia, on the ensuing day, for- 
warded a des{^>atch to the Mayor, demanding satisfaction f r 
the munler of one of his crew. A desultory corre«pon«i 
followed the recfipt of this demand, when tho Provinciid Con- 
gress put an end to it by declaring that, as the Asia had seen 
fit to cannonade the city, she mu«t henceforth obtain her sup- 

Onranizniion of four rrgimpnt* as the qaou of N>w York. — Ucmoval of 
the jftin* on the Batterr. — Cannonmle of the city hjr the Asia T 

war — Di«po*iuuu of the demands fur tatigfactioa of the caaooiuuc ut tbe 

Asia. 



THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 99 

plies from some other source. Meanwhile the Governor, finding 
his position growing daily more unsatisfactory and perilous, de- 
termined to abandon the city, and took refuge on board the 
Asia. His organ and that of the royalists — liivington's New 
York Gazette — having excited the ire of the patriots, Captain 
Sears, with a party of light-horse, on the 4:th of December 
proceeded to its demolition, destroying the press and scattering 
the types. The proprietor sailed for England, whence, how- 
ever, on the occupation of the city by the British troops, he 
returned and resumed the publication of his journal. 

6. On the 27th of June the Continental Congress directed 
General Philip Schuyler to repair to Ticonderoga, and in con- 
junction with Colonels Arnold and Hinman to place the fortifica- 
tions at that post in a complete state of defence, and afterwards, 
if found practicable, to take military possession of St. John's, 
Montreal, or any other portions of Canada which he might deem 
important to the interests of the colonies. Schuyler, under 
these instructions, reached Ticonderoga on the 18th of July, 
and, after making suitable provisions for its defence, despatched 
an agent to Canada to ascertain the disposition of the inhab- 
itants, and the number and condition of the royal forces. 

7. General Montgomery, with a force of twelve hundred men, 
left Crown Point on the 31st of August, and being joined on 
the 4th of September by Schuyler, with about a thousand 
troops, the latter advanced on the 6th against St. John's, but, 
meeting with a formidable opposition, withdrew and re-embarked 
his troops on the succeeding morning. Having been reinforced 
by seven hundred men from New York and Connecticut, a 
second attempt upon St. John's was made, under the command 
of Montgomery on the 1 0th, which was again frustrated by the 
cowardice of the troops. General Schuyler being compelled by 
sickness to return to Ticonderoga, Montgomery assumed the 
command of the expedition on the 16th, and on the same day 
was joined by Colonel Seth Warner, with one hundred and 
seventy Green Mountain boys. On the 19th of October the 
fort at Chambly, twelve miles below St. John's, was captured by 
Majors Brown and Livingston. 

Governor Tryon's abdication. — Demolition of Rivington's press. — Prep- 
arations for an invasion of Canada. 



100 FIFTH rEiuob. 

8. It waij not, liowever, until the 2tl of November, tliat 
St. John'H was surix-ndered, after u series of iniiifortunefl and 
iniscarriiiju'cJi which wouKl Imve di»coun»4rwi a K*h8 detenninitl 
8|>irit. Five hundred rej^uhtrM und one hundrud CaimdiuuH, with 
fi)rty pieceH t»f artillrrv ami a ijimntity of naval Ktoren, fell into 
the hundri of the vict«»n*. Two (MirtieM tk-nt to the relief t»f tho 
fort by (Jenend Carleton, tiie Itntrhh connimnder. one of which 
wjiM heade<l hv huni*elf, were defente*! hv C\>U»nel Warner and 
\! ijopi Unjwn and l,ivinp*tt»n. Miij«>r John Audrv, wh(»t«e huImh»- 
, lit hiittory in well known, wa« one of tlie priHonerH taken at 

the fort Colonel Allen, in tho luetui time, actin;; wholly with- 
out authority from Schuyler or M«»nlfjomerv, hiul involveil him- 
Mi'lf in a iHTieit of diMuttrous fadurvM in lui attack u|Km Mon- 
treal, re*iultin^ in his aipture and |>rolon^>d iui)iriHonmeut. 

9. (leueraJ Mont^fonjer}- then |>n>ce«.«<Ied to Montreal, which 
eitv. aAer interee|ttHi^ and defetitin^ a Htmn^ naval and nulitary 
! <o untler the comuuaul of (fenendu Carleton and rn*t»eott, 
\^ iS KurrentlertMl to him on the 12th of NoveniU'r. In the' 
iiM an time i il Withhiii^ton had, aUmt the middle of Se{h 
tcmlier, dexiMtched Arnold with a forci> of aliout two thoiiHand 
men, hy the route of the Kennel>ec Kiver, apiinnt (Quebec 
After iiKTe<lihle hardHhi]j(i and fati^'ue the trooim retuhed Point 
Ix»vi, op|»i»Hite the city, on the Mh of N*»veml»er, and. having 
Itecn HtreuL'iheiuil l»y the arrival of reinft»rcemeiiti* fnun St 
John'A, cj ; the river on the I3th, and were ilrawii up on the 
IMainn of Ahnvliam, where they awaittnl tho auawcr of the garri- 
Bon to their re|)eate«I demaiulH for Hurreiider. 

10. Learning, however, of the approach of an armed vencl 
to the relief of tho citv, Arnold on the lUth withdrew his forces 
a short distance up the river, to await the arrival of Montijnm- 
erA', who on tho 3d of December joine<l him with a Ktmn^ rein- 
forcement Tho cx>mbincd army imme<luitely moved down tho 
river to (^ucIkx*, and on tho next day took up their position op- 
poitite the city, where vip»ronH preparations luul U'en made by 
(.'arlet»»n, who had eHca|x*d fn»m Montreal, for their reception. 
A spiritcxl but ineffectuiU Itombardment waa kept up for aeveral 
days by the l^esiegerK, when on the 16th a definitive plan of 

Skise sad espiare of St. JohnV — DUsstroas eipsiHtinn of Allao.— 
Sisfs of Quebec by Arnuld and MoDtgomery. 



CAPTURE OF QUEBEC. 101 

operations was arranged by Montgomery for a final and decisive 
assault. 

11. In consequence, however, of the treachery of deserters, 
a change in this plan became necessary. Major Brown and 
Colonel Livingston were intrusted with the execution of two 
feints on the upper town ; Arnold, with Lamb's artillery, was 
ordered to attack the suburbs on the north ; while Montgomery 
in person was to attack the lower town, with the consolidated 
forces, upon their junction. 

12. At five o'clock in the morning of the last day of Decem- 
ber, in the midst of a furious storm of wind and snow, the 
troops took up their respective lines of march. Montgomery, at 
the head of his detachment, descended from the Heights of 
Abraham toward the lower town, where, encountering a block- 
house of hewed logs, flanked by a strong stockade, with his 
own hand he sawed off the posts of the latter, and at the head 
of his party entered the opening. At that moment the occu- 
pants of the block-house discharged against the assailants a 
three-pounder loaded with grape, instantly killing every person 
who had entered, with the exception of the French guide, in- 
cluding General Montgomery and both his aids. The remainder 
of the party, appalled by this disaster, immediately fell back 
hastily and retreated to their quarters. 

13. Meanwhile the intrepid Arnold led his men through 
a succession of heavy snow-drifts to the foot of the cliff on 
the St. Lawrence, where a battery was erected for the defence 
of the suburbs. Advancing to its attack at the head of his 
troops, he was disabled b}^ a musket-shot in the knee, and 
conve3^ed from the field. Captain Morgan, assuming the com- 
mand, carried the battery, amid a storm of musketry and 
grape-shot, and immediately commenced an assault upon a 
second battery, which he also carried after a fierce contest of 
three hours. Carleton, however, with a heavy force, now ap- 
peared in his rear, and the gallant Morgan, finding himself un- 
supported and surrounded was comiDclled to surrender, leaving 
a hundred and fifty of his heroic band killed or wounded, and a 
large number of prisoners, including Captain Lamb, Major Og- 
den, Aaron Burr, and Captain Oswald. 

Death of Montgomery, and defeat of Captain Morgan. 



103 FIFTH PFniOD. 

14. Gcneml Carleton, after making suiuble provision for the 
di8j>o«ition of the dead ami wouude«i, with a chivalry which re- 
flect high credit on his chanictcr, directed 8|)ecial hononi to be 
paid to the remain« of Ium pilhuit cueniy, Gemnd Montp)mery, 
which were burie*!, uiuler the perBomd BUperintcndenco of the 
Lieutenant-iiovenior, within tho walls of the city. Forty-two 
veam later they were pemovcd, l»y onler of the Le«^iHlature of 
New York, to St raul'a Church in the city of Now York, where 
tliey now n?|)o«e under a monumental tablet, en^ctetl undir the 
directions of Cougms as a lasting reconi of his bravery and 
worth. 

15. Colonel AnioM ajisununl the command of the remain- 
ing tro<>{Mi,and havmgwithdrawn fmm the inuuiilmte neigh- 
Iwrhcxnl of tho city, awuitiii the arrivid of (lenerul WiHtnter, who, 
in Aprd of tho eiuuing year, renewtnl the 81606. After a seriee 
of inetTectual • to otVect an entmnoo, tlio trottjie, on tho 

approach of Genend Hur^'oyne wirly in May, with heavy rein- 
forcementn, hastily n-trvatiii, heaving their stores and sick in the 
luuids of tho onemy. Thus tcnninateil this lx»ld and daring 
but disastnuis invii>iun of Canada, — a renult due more to the 
insultonlination and want of «i no of a |)ortion of the trtK>|)«, 

the alwiMico of necessary supi 1 tho in* -y of some 

of tho orticons tlian to nny <1 'y in its conception, or want 

of abilitv or hemic braver\' in it iit communders. 



IIooorR to the menorr of MnntgooMrjr. — rontinn«ncp of iIm rf^Tjr hy 

Arnold STkI WoOtter. — Arrival of BorgOJOe, •»«! rttrvxU <.f the Amrrivail 

troop*. 



THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 103 



CHAPTER VI. 

Declaration of Independence. — Investment of the City of New 
York BY THE British. — Battle of Long Island. — Retreat of 
the Americans to Harlem Heights and Kingsbridge. — Execu- 
tion OF Nathan Hale. — Battle op White Plains. — Capture of 
Ports Washington and Lee. — Retreat through New Jersey. 

1. General Washington having, about the middle of 
March, 1776, forced the British troops under Howe to 
evacuate Boston, whence they sailed for Halifax, and apprehen- 
sive of an intended attack upon New York by the forces under 
Sir Henry Clinton, made immediate preparations for the defence 
of that city. General Charles Lee, who had commanded the 
American forces since the departure of Wooster in January, 
having; been ordered to Charleston, General Putnam was as- 
signed to duty in his place. Clinton, aware of the spirited 
preparations for his reception, passed down the harbor with his 
troops, and proceeded south to the attack of Charleston. 

2. General Washington, with the main body of his army, 
arrived in the city in April, and proceeded to fortify the town 
and its vicinity, together with the passes of the Highlands on the 
Hudson. On the 25th of June General Howe appeared before 
the city with a fleet from Halifax, and on the 2d of July took 
possession of Staten Island on the south, where he was soon 
after joined by his brother. Admiral Lord Howe, with a fleet and 
a large land force from England, and by Sir Henry Clinton with 
the troops under his command. 

3. In the mean time a committee of Congress, consisting of 
Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, 
Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Roger Sherman of Con- 
necticut, and Robert R. Livingston of New York, had reported 
a Declaration of Independence, which, on the Fourth of July, 
was unanimously adopted by the delegates of all the late Colo- 
nies, now forming the Thirteen United States of America. This 
declaration was enthusiastically approved on the 9th of July by 

Preparations for the defence of New York. — General and Lord Howe 
and Sir Henry Clinton invest New York. — Declaration of Independence. 



104 FIFTU PEIUOD. 

the Fourth Provincial Congreaiof New York, at their mcotin^r at 
White PUiins. ami etlWtive mca«ure« of defeiico were iiuiujntnite<l. 

4. The citv of New York was now inv<»t«d bv a fonuitlablo 
amiv of twentv-fivc thouwuui vetenin troope, niuler the com- 
mand of an al»le and ex|KTieu(XHl geueml, and liwivy rviiifon . 
mcntM fn>in Ku;^dunil and tho Continent were daily cx|)ected. 
\\\ the j»>twthiUon of tho city, with it» Imrltor and adjacent 
i^landts and tho coniiC(|uent command of the Huditon, a free 
communication witii Caiuula waii exjiected to be secured, and 
tho ik*|*inition of the Kiwteni fr\»m the Mi<ldle StatcH effected. 
To meet tluH |»owerful f«»rce, \Vai*hin^'ti»n h;ui at hin command 
uii liniHi militui of aUtut seventeen thoutumd effective men. 

6. .Wend aU»rtivo cffurtu at acc<»mmt««lation luivin^ been 
made by the Ilritinh comuuuidens a force of ten tluuiNand men, 
with forty piece?* of artillerk*. were, on the *J2d of AufCUHt, land- 
ed ou the b«>ut)u-ni Mh(»re of Ix>n^ Inland, near the villa;n^>H of 
New I'trecht and liraveH^Mid, a few milcM below the city, and in 
thri'f di' ' 1 to the attack of the American camp at 

Brooklyn, cv*u*Ui.UiUcU by (Jcnend I'utnam, with a force of about 
five thi»u8und men. The left divmion of the Britihh anny, tmder 
General (Inuit, ttK»k the route by the NarrowM towaniM (!owanuii ; 
tho ri^ht, under (•eneruU Clinton and Coniwalh», that K>ad- 
inj; to the int*rior of the '1. and inten*ectinj^ tho n«ji! 
loading fn>m IWtlfonl to Jauia;ca ; and the central diviiiiiui, 
under I>e lleinti-r, chiefly c<mnM<«f*l of Homianii, that by the vil- 
lage of Flatbmth. on the south of the nuigc of hilU connecting 
tho NarrowB with Jam.t 

6. On the nn^niinj; ot tnc -'7th, (Tinton, adv •■ ' fn.m Flit- 

lan<U, had Huccceded in gainint; {totiactttiion of i<i< .•iinaicn paMi, 
near tho site of the prcHcnt Fju*t New York, intruMtc<l to the 
comnnuul of (leneral Sullivan, awl, with his entire force, de- 
8cen«letl, by the villap; of Iledfiipd. into the plain l)etween tho 
hills ami tho Americ:in camp. (Irant, moving along the BlioreH 
of the l>ay, attackcnl I>»rtl Stirling on the present site of the 
Greenwood Cemetery. Do Heistcr, advancing on the Flatbtmh 
road, the patrols assigned to guani tho pass^ having been nuih- 

A|ipnorcd by ProTincial Conjn^M •» While Plains — Plan of ihc mm- 
poiini. — Force* of the corabatanta^ — Battle of Ixmg Island. — I>Upoaiti<>ti 
of tbelbreei. 



BROOKLYN AND HARLEM HEIGHTS. 105 

ly withdrawn by Putnam's order, engaged Sullivan, while Clinton 
gained a position in his rear. Sullivan immediately ordered a 
retreat to the American lines at Brooklyn ; but being pressed 
by Clinton and driven back upon the Hessians, after losing a 
great portion of his force, he was compelled to surrender. 

7. Cornwallis, in the mean while, taking the road to Gowanus, 
attacked Stirling, who was made prisoner, together with most of 
his command, many of their number having been drowned while 
attempting to escape across the Gowanus Creek. The victory on 
the part of the British was decisive. Five hundred Americans 
were killed or wounded, and upwards of a thousand taken pris- 
oners and confined in the prison-ships at New York, where, for 
a long period, they endured extreme hardships and privations. 
The British loss was comparatively trifling. On the night of 
the 29th, Washington silently, and under cover of the darkness 
and a thick mist, drew off the remainder of his troops to New 
York, unperceived by the enemy. 

8. On the 12th of September, Washington, with the broken 
and dispirited remainder of his forces, retreated to Harlem 
Heights on the upper part of the island, where he fortified him- 
self and awaited the attack of the British. With the view of 
obtaining authentic information of their movements, Nathan 
Hale, a young officer in Colonel Knowlton's regiment, was de- 
spatched to the enemy's camp on Long Island, in disguise. 
After possessing himself of full intelligence of their strength and 
plans, he was intercepted on his return and conveyed to General 
Howe's head-quarters, then in New York, where he was tried 
and convicted as a spy, and executed at daybreak on the ensu- 
ing morning, with circumstances of contumely and insult reflect- 
ing deep disgrace on their heartless agents. 

9. In the mean time, under cover of the fire of the British 
ships, Howe, on the 15th, landed at Kip's Bay, at the foot of 
the present Thirty-Sixth Street on the East River, driving before 
him two brigades of Connecticut militia stationed in the neigh- 
borhood for its defence, to the intense and passionate indigna- 



Defeat of the Americans. — WithdraAval of the troops to New York. — 
Eetreat to Harlem Heights. — Arrest and execution of Nathan Hale as a 
spy. — Howe effects a lauding at Kip's Bay. — Cowardly retreat of Connec- 
ticut troops. 



lOG FIFTH PEPdOD. 

turn of Wa^)i!ii;.tun, vi\\o arrivLxi ou the prouii«i just in ■omitti to 
witucss, utihout Itc'ing able to prcvcut, their i^nuiuuntoiix fli 
Seeing thut further uccu}iation of the ialaiid ystks in)|inu-ticuMi . 
]*utnuiii received ortier» to evtiruute the city, and the tnMi|i« at 
Hiirliin were rcniovetl to Kiug»t>ndge, at it« iij>|>er extreinitv. 
Silhinan's hripide, which by «ouie miiichunce luul licen left In- 
hind, wutf extricutetl fn>m its |>eriK>iiH jMwition by the bniver\ 
and adilreM of Colonel Hurr, tlieu an aid of Putnunra. On tlu- 
next day a Be%'erc akirmiah euHued lietaeen the contending 
forces at Harlem, in which tho Aniericniui were victoriniw, with 
tlio lo« of two brave ofticem, — Colonel Knowlton of Connoo- 
ticnt and Major I^eitch of V :- " -'n. 

10. (jcuoral Howe, with lac uciiigli ol pimm;: li. 'h • 
American army, leaving a bt- — forro in |io«iiii4iiiun ui uic * ;r\ , 
and Hending three anaeil vi-<m.ib up the Hudaiin to intercept ail 
communication with New Jentey, tranKferrv<l the main i * > 
of hi« forccH, now lunount-- - • '' •hm» men, to a |»oint in \\ • 
Chester Count v, in the Viiiiiii> <>i i iin^u's Nix'k on the Souii<i 
sixteen mdea north of the city. WuHliiiigton. comprchcndin 

hia dtntigiia, and leaving a i ' '»n of three thomtand men in 

Fort Wanliington on the hu<«'^u, under command of Col<»ncl 
Mngnw. withdrew the r •^■:" of hia foroea to Whito IMaina, on tho 
left Imnk of the Bronx iu>«r. 

11. Here the American army tnnk pout on the hiirh grotmdff 
northwest and northeast of the village, and on the lower ground 
Iwtwwn. « " •■ !mg fn»m the Hrrmx on the right to H«»rton'« 
(now Wdl. ; i V' i'«»tid. on the left, havint; the village in their frt»nt, 
and the rocky heii;ht known as Chatterton's Hill on the iiouth- 
we«t, noparnted fn»m the rii;ht of the lines by a nam>w mnr^'v 
thn»ugh which the river tl«»we«i. The enemy, meanwhile. ha\ 
atlvancetl to .Scjiriidale. within four milcM of White IMauis, wi*» : 
they remaimMJ for three days, marche<l, on the nioniing <»f tin- 
2Hth of (K't«il»er, in two columns, to the attack, (Jeneral Clinton 
with the Hritish tmc»|w command inu the riirht, and (Jenernl Howe, 
with the HesHians luuler l)e Hcwter. having chanrR of the lef>. 

12. Driving before them the pickets and advance parUc5. 

W •<»n'« inilicnaiion — F.raniaiion d[ the city. — Skilful extrirn 

lion «.i Si' wie. — ^ h lit Hsrirm. — A 

British to lun.'t;- ^tvK — Bcuvot ut Wafthiogtoo to Whiic i'uuus. 



THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 107 

the division of De Heister encountered at Hart's Corners, about 
a mile south of the hues, a battalion of two thousand Ameri- 
can troops, under General Spencer, who gave them a temporary 
check. They speedily rallied, however, and gained a position 
south of Chatterton's Hill, in front of which intrenchments had 
been hastily thrown up by the Americans, and placed in charge 
of General McDougall, at the head of his brigade. Colonel 
Haslett's Delaware regiment, which had been ordered to his sup- 
port, was thrown into confusion by the Hessian fire, and replaced 
by the Maryland and one of the New York regiments on the 
extreme right of the line. 

13. General Howe, abandoning his original intention of at- 
tacking the main body on the heights and plains north of the 
village, concentrated his force against McDougall. A sharp 
cannonading was kept up for upwards of an hour. The enemy, 
in three divisions, steadily ascended the hill, attacking simul- 
taneously the regiments stationed on its southern and northern 
slope and on the summit, as well as the right flank w^hich was 
assailed by the Hessians. An attempt to turn McDougall's left 
■was promptly defeated. After an obstinate contest. General 
McDougall's troops were forced to give way, with the loss of 
about sixty men killed and an equal number wounded, with forty 
prisoners. The remainder of the force retreated in good order. 

14. On the ensuing night, General Washington drew back his 
lines, ordered fresh reinforcements, and so strengthened his 
position that no renewal of the attack was attempted. On the 
31st he retired to North Castle, about two miles north, where 
he remained until early in November, when the enemy withdrew 
their forces to Kingsbridge, preparatory to a contemplated attack 
on Fort Washington, which was speedily invested. 

15. This important fortress occupied a prominent position on 
the Hudson River, between the present One Hundred and Eighty- 
First and One Hundred and Eighty-Sixth Streets, the highest 
point on the island, and completely commanding the navigation of 
the river. It was supported and defended by a series of strong 
redoubts, batteries, and other works, on the north and south, 
extending across the entire island at that point, covering the 



Battle of White Plains. 



108 FIFTH PFRIOD. 

Harlem Uiver, mid that portion of Wtstchcstcr County l)Ct\vtcn 
ittf eu.steni Hhurc un<i Long Ulaud Sound. 

16. Genend KuyphuuHcn, with a large botiy oi Hessian and 
EiiL'IiKh troops, ujuouuting in ail tu tivc thou8and men, uttncked 
the fort on the UHh of November, which, after a gallant defence 
by thegarriHon, under Colonel Magnw, with aUiut three thoUKand 
men, waH com|R*lle<l to surrender, with the Iohh of fifty men killeil 
and al)out «»nc hundreii woumletl, the remainder l>eing captured. 
Two dayH afterwanla. Fort Lee, on Uio op|K>Hite hhore of the Hud- 
8on, fell inli) the hands of Lonl ComwalliK, with iu garrinon of 
six thoUMand men, and a ({unntity of liaggage luid military Htore.s. 
And the remainder of the American army fell Uick through New 
Jeruey to Trenton, where, on the 6xX\ of Doccmlwr, they croii.se*! 
the Ik'lawaro into PennMylvania. 

1 7. Kveiitii, mranwhile. of ouuiiiderable importance, were tranh 
])iring »»n the northern frontier. Cienend (iaten, — to whom the 
command of the tnM»|Mi lately engaged in the dinaMtroutt ex|)edi- 
tion agniniit Canada lunl l»een aiwigned, — approhemjivo of an im- 
minliate attempt to recapture Crown Point and Ticouderogu, 
aliandoning the fonner by the advice of a council of officers, 
conceiitrate<l hiH forces at tlio latter point, wlK?ro in Augtist 
he conittructed a Hipiiulron of amall vettMels, and place<i them 
on I^ke Champlaiu under the command of (ieneml .\niold. 
Carleton, on learning thiM intelligence, made similar prt«|iamtion8 
on his imrt to countenict the movement, whatever it might [lor- 
tend, and anchore<l hia mjUHdron opfHrnite St John's. Arnold, 
unaware of the strength of his o(i|M>nent, fell Imck fn>m his 
povtition opposite Crown Point to Valcour's Island, a short dis- 
tiuioe south of Plattslmrg, where he anchore*! his fleet across 
the narrow channel l>etween the island and the wcHtom shore 
of the lake, and awaited C'arletou's appniaeh. 

18. On the nioniing of the 11th of Octolier tl, • ni. S 
squadron, consisting of a very 8U|)erior force in shi, tiers, 
soldiers, and seamen, ap|ieared off CumU»rland Hea<l to the 
northward, and, sweeping around the southerly |ioint <»f Valcour- 
Island, took up a position directly south of the American fle< t. 

Cspturp of Foru Wii*hinpton and Lc*. — Urtrrat of ihc Amrrir*n ann 
through Nrw .IrrM>T to I'mnyvlvnnin. — Nsral combat on Lake CbampUin 
between the Brituh and American fleets. 



THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 109 

Arnold immediately prepared for action, and at about eleven 
o'clock his schooner — the Royal Savage — and a few of the small 
boats got under way, the residue of the squadron remaining at 
anchor. The schooner was speedily disabled by the enemy's 
guns, and, to prevent her falling into his hands, run ashore by 
her captain and burnt. The action was continued with round 
and grape shot, on both sides, until night separated the com- 
batants. 

19. So severe were the injimes sustained by the American 
squadron in this desperate engagement, that an immediate 
return to Crown Point was deemed advisable ; and notwith- 
standing the proximity of the enemy's vessels in their front, 
aided by the darkness of the night and the presence of a heavy 
fog, they succeeded in passing through the fleet undiscovered, 
and in reaching Schuyler's Island, ten miles distant, where they 
stopped for a short time for repairs. Resuming their course, and 
closely pursued by their disappointed adversaries, they reached 
Willsborough, about thirty miles north of Crown Point, on 
the morning of the 1 3th, and were shortly afterwards overtaken 
by the enemj^'s fleet, favored by a fresh northeasterly breeze. 

20. The schooner Washington, which was first overtaken, 
after sustaining with great gallantry the fire of three of the 
British vessels, struck her colors, and General Waterbury and his 
men, who were on board, were taken prisoners. The Congress 
was next attacked, and sustained for five hours a spirited but 
unequal contest against a vastly superior force, when, having 
become a complete wreck, with her sails, rigging, and hull torn 
to shreds, Arnold run her into a creek on the eastern shore of 
the lake, and set her on fire, with the remaining boats by which 
he was accompanied. He then, after witnessing the completion 
of his work, marched his men through the woods to Chimney 
Point, reaching Crown Point at an early hour on the ensuing 
morning. 

21. Of the fleet with which he sailed from Crown Point a 
few days before, only two schooners, a sloop, two galleys, and a 
gondola remained. The prisoners captured from the Wash- 
ington were released on parole, and returned to Crown Point on 

The American fleet disabled. — Its retreat and pursuit. — Return to 
Crown Point. 



no FIFTH PFniOD. 

the next dav. Conenil ArnoKl ^^ a^ ln-rlily complimented in all 
qiiarten* for his skill, hmvorv. umi iK.i-»i«lent c«.unHre iu the fuco 
of »o ^Tx»at odda ; luid the rt-Hull of the comUit wji» Imiled jui 
iudicjitivc of future uaval triuinplu* on the part of the Amcri- 
caoii, under less adyerse ciruumstouoes. 



CHAPTEH VII. 
FiB«T State CoinrrrrrTioji. — Geo«ob Cmxtojc rijcctcd Oote«?«"«. 

UaIUIAKOIA rK&ATMEJIT i*V I'kI JM»!« i;Rj» |X TIIL I'iTT or N > ^^ 

York. — UiMooTNE't Camiaiu*. — Mtui>i;u or Jaxe McC'KiiA. — 
Battle or Oeiaeant. 

1. Mranwhilb the city of New York beoune, from the pcritnl 
of it« occti|«tiou by the Ku^cludi trtHtjiR, the hcml-<|uarter8 

" ' ■ of the hritinh nnnv, under the conuimiid of (jencrol Howe. 
The patriotic inhahitanti* - mich of them, at leant, m luid 
cscapeil capture and imprimmmeut — were com|>clltHi to al»un- 
don their aUxleK, which were occupied chiffly hy othcem of the 
orrav an<l hiwts of Torien fn»m the n. i 'hlmnn^; couutien. The 
Provincial ContTeiw a*younied to K. .. a and other towuM on 
tlio Hmi.Hon, where, in conjunction with deKv»t<^« frt'»" t*»<^ »"• 
terior. thev eHt4ihli»lieil a connnittec of hafely, with John Jay at 
it« head, and by Hpirite«l and |tttriotic adtlretoiea encouraged 
reniHtoncc to the c«Hnmon enemy. We«tche«ter and K»»ckland, 
known on the neutral (jtmwl, were infected hy •' ('<.w lk)y» " and 
** Skinnens" — the former avowc'tl Toriea. and tlie latter indif- 
ferent to any principle other than plunder. 

2. In March. 1777. (;cnend Howe dej*i>atch<*d a ntronj: force 
up the IhMl.s<.n for the capture of the military- hton s of the 
AmericnuH at Pe<'k»kill. which, on their appnwch, were pn.mplly 
dc«troviHl hv the diftMi<lrr» under the con»nmn«l of (Jenond Mc- 
Doupill. and tlie jxirty. without accomplishing their oh 
retunied to New York. A hhort time afterwards r. 1 m 1 
Mei^ with one hun«lred and twenty men, attacked a liritisli 
post at Sag HurlKjr, on the ea«tcm extremity of U)ng Itdand. 

\{t*n\x of the conflict. — Ocrupation of New York. — The nentrml groond. 
^Military storai at Peekskill. — AttMk oo Sag Uarbor. 



THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. HI 

burned several vessels, store-houses, &c., and took ninety 
prisoners, for which he received the thanks of Congress. 

3. In April of this year, a Convention of delegates, represent- 
ing the several counties of the State, assembled at Kingston and 
formed the first State Constitution. By its provisions a Gov- 
ernor was to be elected by the people for a term of three years, 
and the legislative department vested in a Senate and Assem- 
bly, deriving their power from the same source. All inferior 
offices were to be filled by the Governor and a council of four 
senators, — one from each district ; and to a Council of Revision, 
similarly constituted, was assigned the power to pass upon the 
validity and constitutionality of legislative acts. George 
Clinton, of Orange County, already favorably distinguished for 
his patriotism and public and private worth, was elected Gov- 
ernor. John Jay was appointed Chief-Justice ; Robert R. 
Livingston, Chancellor; and Philip Livingston, James Duane, 
Francis Lewis, and Gouverneur Morris, delegates to the Con- 
tinental Congress. 

4. Diu-ing this period, and until nearly the conclusion of the 
war, the numerous prisons in the city of New York, and the 
prison-ships in its vicinity, were crowded with captives, whose 
ill-treatment and sufferings reflected a lasting disgrace upon the 
vile instruments by whom they were inflicted and upon the 
nation which permitted them. The City Hall, the Bridewell, 
situated on the Commons, the new jail in the Provost, many of 
the churches, the old Sugar-House, built in the days of Leisler, 
and other public buildings, were transformed into receptacles for 
the captured soldiers. 

5. The Jersey prison-ship, and numerous other vessels in the 
bay, rivers, and harbor, were converted into loathsome dungeons 
for the sailors. The former, under the supervision of the in- 
famous Provost-Marshal Cunningham, with his assistants, depu- 
ties, and commissaries, were subjected to the most inhuman 
and incredible barbarities ; while the latter were huddled together 
in vast numbers in crowded hulks and miserable cabins, suffering 
all the horrors of pestilence, starvation, and tyrannical barbarity. 

Constitutional Convention. — Election of Governor and appointment of 
State officers and Con^rressional delegates. — Barbarous treatment of 
prisoners. — The Sugar-House and Jersey prison-ship. 



112 y IF III PEnioD. 

lu ono chtirch ci^ht hiimlrtil priaoncra were incaroernted, of 
whom maiiv died fnnu aluir woiit of the necetsariee of lilV, ill- 
treatment, and ne^dect ; and in another three thousand werv 
crowded to^'ctlier, largo uumbcni of whom periuhed from diikauw 
and violence. 

0. The atrocities which have conaijnied the memon' of the 
old Supir Houiio to ail etenml infumy were of a still deeper 
dve, and their horrible and revolting di'tuiU tux' ei|uulled only 
by the annuls of the litintile and the dungeon vnultH of the 
Kuro{)eai) frudul agiii. But even these were 8ur|HUiHcd, if |io«*- 
eible, in cruelly and criminality, in the l*rovo«t Jail, under the 
immediate chtuye of Cunninglwtm, where the most brutal and 
barbaroiM treiitment to priaonen* of distinction of ever}' gnulo 
was of dully • • '"rvnce. On l>uurd the primin-HhiiMi the luuno 
MyKtematio ou;:..^. A iiguinst the commonest dictates of human 
ity were continually |»erpetrate<l ; nor did they cetuie, in X\\*^v 
or the other prisons, m»t withstanding the couKtiiiit remt>iiKtnii. 
of \Vashingt4>n, until the chine of the war. 

7. In acixjrdanco with the original <le«ign of st^fmrating the 
eastern and n«»rthem colonies from the southern an<l western 
by the occujiancy of the HudH*.>u Hiver, IJenend !ltjrj^»yne, in 
command of an armv of seven thousand men. « tiir '»f 

m 

Englwh, < Germans, Canadians, and Indians, estai 
on the 10th of Jime, 1777, at Crown Point, and from th.it jxiint 
pn»cee*le«l on the 2d of July to invest Tioon«len»;4a, sen<ling <»ut 
a detachment of aliout two thousand (aniulians and IndiaiiH. 
bv wav of (>swe«jr.. to attack Fort Schiivler on tiie Moliawk. 

8. GenenU St i , who C(>mmande<l the \tcmi at Ticiiiideniga, 
with a force of a)M>ut three thousand men, finding himself un 
able to hold the outworks against the su|)crior forces brought to 
bear against him, withdrew t<» the defences of the fort. The 
BritiMh troops t*K)k post on the northwest; their iJerman allu-.s 
on the opijosite side of the hike in the rear of Mount Indnpcn- 
dence, occupied by the Americans ; while Mount \h . «>n 
the southern side of the outlet, which commanded the entire 
{)Oftitiou, had l^een lefl unfortified from inability to furnish it 
with an effective gnrristin. 

9. The Hritish immediately avaiUnl themselves of this omis 

Plan and ol^)«eti of the canpaign. — Attack on Tiooodaraga. 



THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 113 

sion by planting their artillery on the summit of this height, at 
the distance of about a mile from the fort ; and St. Clair, at 
once perceiving the futility of further resistance, evacuated the 
works on the evening of the 5th of July, crossed over to Mount 
Independence, and, sending his ammunition and stores to 
Skenesborough, a few miles up the lake, commenced his re- 
treat to Fort Edward. 

10. His movements, however, having been discovered by the 
enemy, through the accidental bm-ning of a building on Mount In- 
dependence, he was pm'sued, his baggage, stores, and provisions 
seized and destroyed, and his rear division, under Colonel Seth 
Warner, overtaken at Hubbardton in Vermont, and, after a 
severe engagement, routed and dispersed. The victors, on the 
7th of July, returned in trimnph to Ticonderoga, over which 
the British flag was floating, while the dispirited remnant of 
the Americans, five days afterwards, reached General Schuy- 
ler's camp at Fort Edward. 

11. That officer, finding himself unable to maintain his posi- 
tion with a very inferior force against a victorious adversary, 
sent a strong party to obstruct the route of the invaders, while 
he slowly retreated, with the residue of his command, down the 
valley of the Hudson to the mouth of the Mohawk. Here, with 
the aid of the distinguished Count Kosciusko, who was attached 
to his stafi" as engineer, he erected a series of strong intrench- 
ments in the neighborhood of Cohoes Falls, and, reinforced by 
a large body of New England troops under General Lincoln, 
awaited, with an army of thirteen thousand men, the approach 
of the enemy. 

12. General Burgoyne's march to Fort Edward was seriously 
impeded by the numerous obstructions thrown in his path by the 
party sent out to Skenesborough by Schuyler, and it was not 
until the 30th of July that his army, nearly destitute of provis- 
ions and exhausted by fatigue, reached their destination. On this 
march occun'ed the lamentable tragedy of the murder of Jane 
McCrea, a young woman consigned by her betrothed to a party 
of Indians belonging to the British army, for conveyance from 

Retreat of St. Claiv. — Retreat of General Schuyler. — Concentration of 
troops at the mouth of the Mohawk. — Kosciusko. — Murder of Jane 
McCrea. 

8 



114 FIFTH PFRIOD. 

Fort Edwunl to the British camp. The circnmstanoes under 
which the murder was c*oinmitte<l are iiivoIve<i in considerable 
olwcurity ; but there BiM^niM to lie Uttle doubt that the haplei^'^ 
girl waj< bnitnllv shf^t duwu in a cpiarrel anum^ her 8uvaf;< 
guides for the n-wuni offenxi for her transniitwion to the cainp. 

13. On the 2d and 3*1 of August, Fort Schuyler, situated 
on the site of the j>re»ent villa^rc of Home, on the Mohawk, 
had l>ecn invested by a detachment of Hm^yne's anny, coni 
mande<l by St, I^^er, numlierintr some seventeen hundred men, 
fuid consisting; of a laip? number of Mohnwk Indians under 
Brant, and of Ameriain Toriea under Sir Wdliam Johnson m!!-) 
the infamous Butler. On the morning; of the 4th active hohi.l. 
ties commence<l. and were continued on the .^th. The furt was 
commanded by <'olonel Peter IJanseviKirt. (Jenenil Herkimer, 

m 

with a force of alMuit ei^ht hundre<l men, marehcil to his relief, 
acoom)innied by Thomas i^v'^'-r, the faithful sachem of th«' 
Oneidaa. C'rt>Hhin;; the M<i..-^.« at the present site of Ttica, 
they encamjHHi on the 5th at Oriskany, near the prt>scnt villap? 
of \VhitesU»r- •"'''. frt»m whence Cieneral Herkimer sent mes- 
■engeni to ap]-;.^^ Colonel (mnsevoort of their appruoch, and tu 
concert measures of coKtjM'ration. 

14. In conMo<|uence of the recklcM impctuoaity of the troops 
under his command and their entire disrepiard of discipline, 
Herkimer, m- ■•■''• d by SjR'ncer and some of his moat eiperienced 
oflicers, was t: us of remaining in his present camp until the 
arrival of n*inforccments, or intelligence from the fort. The 
junior ofticerH, however, strongly remonstrated against all delay, 
and nn aiigry altercation ensued, in the course of which (jcncral 
Herkimer was stigmatized as a coward and a Tory. His indig- 
nant reply was a peremptory order to •* March on ! " and the 
command was imme<liately f»l>eyed with the utmost precipitation 
and cli»4»nier, taking care, however, to send out an advnnre<l 
guard and Hankini; {nrties to guard against surprise. 

15. St, Ix^ger having received information of his approach, 
sent forwanl a detachment under the command of Sir John 
Johnson, including the entire IkxIv of Indians, hcade<I by Bnuit. 
to intercept his progrcsa. At aliout two miles west of ( • 
kany an ambuscade was prej«arcd by Brunt along the margin 

AtiAck upon Fort Schuyler. — Battle of Ori»kany. 



THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 115 

of a deep ravine, through which the advancing party were com- 
pelled to pass, and into which, followed by their baggage- 
wagons, they passed, and were immediately surrounded and 
hemmed in by their savage foe, shouting the war-whoop and 
pouring in upon their disorderly and panic-stricken columns 
a torrent of rifle-balls. The rear-guard, cut off from their ad- 
vancing comrades, fled with precipitation, closely pursued by 
the Indians, by whom they were severely harassed, while the 
main body, recovering from their surprise, maintained the un- 
equal contest with the skill and desperation of veterans. 

16. Early in the action, General Herkimer was severely wound- 
ed by a musket-ball, which killed his horse and shattered his 
own leg. At his request he was placed upon his saddle at the 
foot of a tree, where he coolly continued to direct the battle, 
which raged with the utmost fury for nearly an hour, when it 
was interrupted by a heavy thunder-storm, which enabled the 
little band to gain a more favorable position. The struggle was 
again renewed, and just as the Indians were beginning to give 
way before the skilful and persistent attacks of the Americans, 
a reinforcement of Tories was sent by St. Leger to their relief, 
and the hand-to-hand contest continued with increased deter- 
mination and ferocity on both sides. 

17. The signal guns from the fort now annoimced a sortie 
from the garrison, which had been previously concerted by Gen- 
eral Herkimer, and, a riise of Butler's for deceiving the Ameri- 
cans by the appearance of relief having been detected, the Tory 
reinforcement were driven from their ground with great slaughter, 
followed by their associates and the Indians, who, perceiving the 
retreat of their allies, immediately fled in every direction, leav- 
ing the heroic band, after a contest of eight hours' dm^ation, in 
possession of the field. 

18. Meanwhile the detachment from the fort, under the com- 
mand of Colonel Marinus Willett, made an impetuous attack 
upon St. Leger's advanced guard, and speedily succeeded in 
gaining possession of his camp, military stores, and baggage, 
without the loss of a single man, driving the Indians into the 
woods and compelling Johnson to a hasty retreat. Five British 
standards were captured and immediately hoisted on the flag- 
Indian ambuscade. 



116 FIFTH PFRIOn. 

staff of the fort, under the AiiKTiiun rolora. The siege was oon- 
tiouod until the ^Jd^ when the a{)]K*urunce of (icneral Arnold 
with reinforcements friiiu Schuyler induced the prompt wiih- 
drawid of the HntitUi luid their Harage alliea. U«oflnd iierkiuier 
boon uftcr died from the effects of his wound. 



CHATTKU VIII. 

FiKST AHV SrcojtD Battus* or Stillwatbr. — Victoit or T«a 
AJiuaiCAXS. — Si'saaxDEii or Ursoorxs at Saratoga. 

1. General Bliiootxr, weakened and diiKxiura^irt^ as he was 

hy the defeat at IU'nnin>^uu of im ex|ieditiun sent into 
Venuont for supf^lirn to his onny, by the scarcity of pro- 
visiouH, and by the niui. oltHtnictmnH which were interposed 

to his progresi on ever}* Imnd, still {RTKiHte<i in his determina- 
tion to carry out the ori^^inid pinn of the cuni|Miipi by eti 
a union with the force!* of Ia*t\\ Howe, and thereby cuttii 
all c«>nununication )K*twet>n the eiiMteni and the nu Mid 

Boutheni adoniitL With this view, on the 13th ancl 14th of 
Septeniljcr he crossed with his army to the western lunk of the 
Hudson, and encnm|ie4l on the heights and pluins of SAKATtMiA, 
on the jjToiind now occupied by the villo^^ of Schuyler\*ille, — 
the American array lieing stationed hi the neighborhood of 
Stillwater, about nine miles distant 

2. On the iHth he advanced to a position within alwut two 
miles fn>in the Amehciai camp, near wlmt is now known as 
Wilbur's IWin, where, havmg strcn^hencd himself by throwing 
up intrenchments and re<loubts, and lieing further pn»tiite«l by 
a deep ravine in fn»ut, prejiur.itions were immodiittely made for 
an att4uk on the American lines. The right wing of his army 
consiste<l of light-infantry and grenadiers, suj»|iort4.Nl by the Hes- 
sian riflemen and a Ixxlvof ( in Tories and Indians as skir- 
mishers, and was placed under the command of (Jenerul Frnzer, 

TcnnJnstlon of the ricjyp. — Tl- ment« fW>m ArnoM and S 

— Rctrrat of the British. — PIsn oi lac campaign. — Burgo/ne sdraaco uj 
Ssrstoga. — Position of the armies. 



THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 117 

Major Ackland, and the Earl of Balcarras ; the centre, of Eng- 
lish troops under Burgoyne in person and General Hamilton; 
and the left, "of the artillery regiments and Hessians under Gen- 
erals Riedesel and Philips. 

3. The Americans occupied an advantageous position on 
Bemis's Heights, which they had taken care strongly to pro- 
tect, by the erection of breastworks and redoubts. Its right, 
commanded by General Gates, who had recently superseded 
Schuyler, occupied the meadows between the heights and the 
river ; and the left, under General Arnold and Colonel Morgan, 
occupied the heights and the high grounds to the west. A 
deep, closely wooded ravine also protected the front of the right 
wing, and, at a little distance north, another of a similar char- 
acter intervened between the two armies. 

4. On the afternoon of the 19th the enemy in tliree divisions 
advanced to the attack, — the centre crossing the ravine in a 
line directly in front of the American camp, the right around its 
head, and the left passing down the road skirting the river. 
Colonel Morgan's regiment of riflemen, led by Major Mori'is, en- 
countered the advanced column, and after an impetuous attack 
were driven from the field with the loss of twenty men. Arnold 
was immediately despatched with two regiments to their relief; 
but notwithstanding his accustomed display of vigor and brav- 
ery, he was forced to retreat, Gates having refused the reinforce- 
ments which he required. 

5. Arnold immediately, by a rapid countermarch, fell sud- 
denly and with great precipitation upon the enemy's centre, 
commanded by Burgoyne himself, and, having been strength- 
ened by the accession of several regiments belonging to his own 
division, — comprising the New York troops, under Colonels 
Pierre Van Courtlandt and the Livingstons, with the New 
Hampshire, Connecticut, and Massachusetts troops, — main- 
tained the action for four hours, until darkness separated the 
combatants, when he retired in good order and without pursuit. 
The forces of the two armies were nearly equal, the superiority 
in numbers being with the enemy, who had thirty-five hundred 
men against Arnold's three thousand. The British loss was six 



Battle at Bemis's Heights. — Arrangement of forces. — Repulse of Mor- 
gan and Arnold. — Renewal of Arnold's attack. 



118 FIFTU PERIOD. 

hundred killed and wounded, while the Americans* was only 
about half thnt number. The enemy retained po«e«sion of 
the field ; and both |jartieM Htren^hcucd their jKMutionB pre 
paraton* to a renewal i>f the Ixitlle. 

0. Mitintime an unfortunate and serious misunderBtAndin;; 
had Kprun^ u|> lietwecn (.«enerals Gates and Arnold, p^)win<^ out 
of tRe removal of Schuyler ; and an unpleaiiant intorviuw, follow- 
\r\'^ the detiu'lmient of Mor^nn'M ritlemt-n and UearlKjm's infiuitry 
fn>m Arnold's division, had resulted in his removtd from all 
comman<i, and exclusion from hcad-<iuurt4*rH, the left win^ Ixrin^' 
asiU{j^ied to General LinooliL So far was tiiis hitter feud • u 
ried, that no mention was made hy Gates, in his othcitd desjiuti. ... 
to the l'omnMUidfr-in4*hiff, of the im|K'rtaiit iJirt tali u in tin* 
battle of tlio previous day by Arnold. 

7. For upwards of two weeks following the liattle of Ik>mih'h 
]f.;.'l.tH^ or Stdlwater, aa it is morv generally dcstpiatcd, the 
ci.. ;. - lines were inceaaantly haraimed by sorties from the 
Amci;v;iit r?iii!j». though no j^'ueral cnp* "••'"•nt ttccurred. Tlu* 
tupply of ].r>*wMons and fornp; for the i.. ...Ui was daily dimin 
ishing. The difhculties of a n>treat to Canada, combined wit it 
the hazanl of Knivi!- ' '^'♦•- free to turn his army apiinst Howe, 
inclined him to aw.i.t ""•■•»■•■•>« from the latter; but tin- 
prcs«'*V'> "f want, and i..- .;^. I some movement to •'i ;«.'.lv 

the i;< ... .^ncies of the s> « ; v, rendered a second and d 

battle inifiemtive. 

8. (>n the 7th of Oct*.;- 1. .. — niinudy. General Bur«^'vnr» m, 
the absence of all infoniuuion from Htiwe, deemed it ..... 

to make a demouMtnition on the left of the American In 
A detachment of HAoen hundred re^ilar troo|Mi, with a f>< 
Iwittery of artillery and field pieces, accompanied by G< 
I*hili{«, Uie<le«el, and Fmzer, waa moved, under his imn* 
command, to a |M»9ition within three quarters of n niiln ..f tV..' 
left win;^ of the Americana, while Captain Fnuer'b ;.. 
Indians, an<l Tory refuj^i'cs, were directe*! to effect, if | ... a 
divcnuon of their attention from the openUiooa on their fiauk. 

DisMMion between Gain and Arnold. — Arnold dcprirrd of hi« com 
maod. — Ur OS. — Terapnmrr ccMation of b<> 

ties. — EmUuru.'-^iii;; ( ituqgojne. — Actire operatiooa detcnauicU 

apoiL — Mof« m.nu ot : 



THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 119 

Their movements were, however, seasonably discovered, and 
Morgan was ordered by Gates to gain the high gromid on their 
right, while General Poor, with the Eastern and New York regi- 
ments, advanced against their left. 

9. By a sudden and rapid movement the attack was com- 
menced on the extreme left of the enemy's line, where Major 
Ackland was in command, and soon reached the centre, while 
Morgan appeared on the right, and the action became general. 
Burgoyne finding himself unable effectually to resist this com- 
bined attack, attempted to form a second line in rear of the first, 
to secure the retreat of the latter ; but, before this object could 
be effected. Major Dearborn had effected a breach in the enemy's 
left wing, compelling the right to rally to its relief. 

10. In the execution of this movement. General Frazer re- 
ceived a mortal wound, and Burgoyne found it necessary to 
order a retreat of the main body, under cover of the forces of 
Generals Philips and Beidesel, and such assistance as he him- 
self might be able to render with such troops as could hastily 
be collected. With great difficulty they were enabled to regain 
their camp, with the loss of six pieces of artillery and several of 
their men. 

11. Arnold, notwithstanding orders to the contrary, had occu- 
pied his usual place at the head of his troops, and participated 
in the attack with his usual bravery and determined energy. 
Flying in hot haste from one part of the field to the other, 
he cheered on his men, everywhere received with the greatest 
enthusiasm, his orders carried out and his example emulated 
throughout the line. Chiefly by his indomitable spirit and gal- 
lant exertions the right and rear of the enemy's forces were 
carried and held by Lieutenant-Colonel Brooks, when the ap- 
proach of darkness again put an end to the contest. 

12. The Americans had, however, obtained a complete and 
brilliant victor}^ The British had been driven from the field 
with the loss of several of their best officers, six hundred men 
killed, wounded, and prisoners, and most of their artillery, am- 
munition, horses, and baggage. The American loss did not 
exceed one hundred and fifty killed and wounded, among the 

Counter-movements of the Americans. — Second battle of Stillwater. — 
Bravery of Arnold. — Eetreat of the British. — Victory of the Americans. 



120 FIFTH PFIilOD. 

latter of whom was (jeneral Arnold, who, just as the victory wm 
won, nxvivoil a ball uhicli fnu'tureii his lt.% killing his hunio. 
How n«*l<Iu iuid brilliant would have been hia record, could it 
onlv have tennJhate<l here I 

m 

13. GenonU 1'-'^ -vue, on the night of the 7th, changed his 
position to tli«' i ..IS ^^n the west liank of the Hudjtou, near 
the present \ .u-i^o uf Wilbur's Basin. On tht> nioniiug of the 
8th the AriMr<.<fin>( took possesaion of his alvuidoiicil cuinp ; and 
although . fire of artillery and suiall-anus wiui kept up 
lictucvn Xi. ..::... s during the dav, no furlhtr nttiok wiu imulo 
on either side. (Jeiiend <»ale« dfM)j»tch(.<d u I : „.. ._• under < > .. 
end Fellows to take |ioHt on the eu^t side of the Hudson, <t !>.> 
site Snrutt»ga, to cut t*tX the eneniv'ti retivat. .Viiother <. . 
mcnt of two thousand men wiut wnt to intercept him at Fort 
Kdmard, and a third, with a siuiibir objivt, to the fonl higher up. 

14. Hreaking up his command, an«l leaving bfhind hiui some 
thm* hundred of his aick and wounded in o »iise<pience of the 
\*u\ Ntate of the roada, Hur^'<>yne, on the night tif the 8th, re- 
treated! with great socrccy. with all his reiiuiining liaggogc, to 
Sarat4>gn (now Scliuylcndle;, whuh he reacluil on the succeed- 
ing night. On the afternoon of tlio lOth he was overtak«-n )iy 
the .\meriauia, and on tho following morning an ii\)u ■ .h 
attempt on the {Art of (iatea to Ijriiig on a general action, in 
ignomiHf of the p • of the enemy, woa only fnistrated by 
the iiee of his peremptory orders by the officeni under 

his ( .■;i.:,i.i:, i. 

15. Chi the 12th, no r> infonnntion having been re- I 
oeivcd either fn>m Clinttai or How«'. ntjd llic supply of i»rt>- 
viHions oontmuing iniul<^u>itp, a • 1 of othcers u i I 
u{Min the naceaaity and < <ncy of a retntit, if possible. In 
way of Fort F^lwanl or I^ke (ioorgr. This having l>een found 
wholly impractii*ablo. by the rr»j»r»H of scouts, and three days' 
supply only hmi. j, a aipit ii w«^ dotemiine<I upon on 
the next •: . On the IGth the nt^g' :m for this purjK>se 
were complete<l, and on the 17th the surrender eflecte<l in the 
presence of l>oth armies, with all the usual foruMdities. 



General AmoM «oun«U'«1. — M -wosnales. — Ransorne't 

ivtresi cut off. — Unreal to bAf.i^-^... i..j>.».vMMt oottdact of Gsies. — 
SiUTBodcr of BurgovQc 



THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 121 

16. Twelve general officers, some thirty regimental officers, 
nearly nine hundred subalterns, and four thousand eight hun- 
dred and thirty-six privates, amounting in all to five thousand 
seven hundred and sixty-three, laid down their arms ; and 
twenty-seven pieces of cannon, with implements and stores com- 
plete, five thousand stands of arms, and great quantities of 
ammunition, were captured. 

17. The surrender of Burgoyne was followed by the evacua- 
tion of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and the total prostration 
of the British power in the northern section of the State. Its 
effect upon the American army and the American people gen- 
erally was electric. Following, as it did, upon the disastrous 
results of the campaign of the preceding year, and the recent 
defeats in Pennsylvania, it infused fresh spirit into the hearts 
of the desponding, encouraged and strengthened the timid, ap- 
palled the domestic traitors, and cheered the patriots through- 
out the country. It riveted the alliance of the French auxilia- 
ries, and secured the respectful regards, if not the effective aid, 
of foreign States. Even in the British Parliament it called 
forth the indignant remonstrances of the ablest English states- 
men, and enlisted the ardent sympathies of the friends of free- 
dom throughout the world. 

18. Sir Henry Clinton, with the view of co-operating with 
Burgoyne, had, early in October, ascended the Hudson with 
a strong force, and on the 6th a detachment under Lieutenant- 
Colonel Campbell gained possession of Forts Montgomery and 
Clinton, on the boundaries of Orange and Kockland County, 
after a severe contest maintained, under the immediate direction 
of Governor Clinton, by Colonels Livingston, Bruyn, and Mc- 
Loughr3\ Having also secured the occupation of Fort Con- 
stitution, opposite West Point, with the uninterrupted com- 
mand of the river, they contented themselves with burning 
Kingston, and, intelligence of the defeat of Burgoyne rendering 
further advance unnecessary^ returned to New York, while Gen- 
eral Gates, with a thousand of his victorious troops, rejoined 
Washington's camp in Pennsylvania. 

Effects of the surrender. — Caiiture of Forts Clinton, Montgomery, and 
Constitution, on the Hudson. — Burning of Kingston. — General Gates 
joins Washington's army in Pennsylvania. 



122 Firm rKiiioD. 



CHAPTER IX. 

IlTBIA.H BaRIIARITIE*. — M A-- i< Kl. AT * lill.i.l \aLLJ.J. — iSLLLIVASfl 

Camtaius. 

1. The Miiccooiling year wa« chiefly •' nisluxl, in the nn 

imls of the Stutc of New York» hv nn ntrucious 8ucce« 
siuu of Indian tuul Tory barltnriticM und nuuttuicrt's in th< 
Mohawk Vulley nnd ninon^ tlie interiitr Hettlenientx, undrr tin 
auMpioea of Jomph Hnuit, tlie well-known chief of the ^ 
Nationa, and Walter Butler, the Mon of the fiendiah ini- i< 
ant John Hutk-r, the chief n^'ent in the fuinouH nuiAsacro in 

^\'\ ■•In;! _'. 

2. On the liit of June, < !i l*ntrick, of ('<»l<.iul AKUu'.h 
MatMochuMettii re;;tinetit, with 11 |uirty <if volunte(>ra, wa> 
nttackeil nt the httlo settlement of ColileNkill, on tlie Mohawk 
Kiver, in Si'lu»harie County, hy a pirty of IndianH and Toriex 
oonin)ande<l l»y Brunt and one Service, nuniU'rinj: over three 
hundret! and hftv. After a Moorlv and <! ite contest, 
Patrick, with twenty of hiw men, wiu« kille<l, and H«.'Venil <»therH 
wounde<l and captunnl ; antl the enemy, having |)lundered and 
burnt the houM>tt of the Hettlem, n>tunied to Canada. 

3. Ihirin;: the Hpriniir of tluH year, in appreheuHion of Induin 
hontiliticH, Cenend Iji" • had directed a fort to Ik? hudt at 
Chern* Valley, in ()tm»p. ( -iiunty, then a jmrt t)f Tr\on County. 
Bmnt, with hin Kivnpe warrioni, hovere<l around the nettle 
ment while the work wna in ' jw, dwitr Sprin^rfield. 
and continuing hiii aggreafiionn inwti time to tunc in the nei^h 
borhood. until they aaaumed no fonnidnhle a character tliat Colo- 
nel Ichaltod Allen, with a r- iit of Continental troojia, wan 
orden^l to the villa^. and t«K>k poaMnion of the church, sur- 
roundeil by a heavy stockade, for tlie protectioo of the in- 
habitantft. 

4. At the uj>j)n>ach of winter, however, the »ettlers retunied 
to their deserteil luibitatioua, — further ho«tilitiefl having ap- 
parently been abandoned, — and Brant retired with hia foroea 



Indian and Turr atrocities. — Attark upun CublcakilL — Dcstmction of 
the wttlement. 



CHERRY VALLEY. 123 

to Niagara. On his journey he was met by Walter Butler at 
the head of a detachment of two hundred men known as " But- 
ler's Rangers," — a band of Tories commanded by his father. 
Smarting under the indignities inflicted upon him by the 
patriots, who had a short time previous arrested and confined 
him as a Tory, and burning for revenge, he was on his way to 
destroy Cherry Valley, whither he was accompanied by Brant 
with five hundred of his party. 

5. On the 6th of November, information of the intended 
attack was communicated to Colonel Alden by Colonel Gan- 
sevoort, the commander of Fort Schuyler ; but the warning was 
contemptuously disregarded by the former, who refused to per- 
mit the return of the settlers to the fort, with their families 
and effects, and contented himself with sending out scouts, who 
fell victims to their wary and vigilant savage enemies, without 
having been able to apprise the garrison of the imminent 
danger hanging over it. 

6. On the morning of the 11th of November, in the midst of 
a heavy storm of snow and rain, the enemy having on the pre- 
vious night gained the outskirts of the town, and encamped 
iipon a hill thickly covered with evergreens, about a mile from 
the fort, advanced upon the unsuspecting settlement by a path 
which had been left unprotected, and took possession of a swamp 
in its vicinity. Colonel Alden was again warned of their ap- 
proach by a traveller, who had been shot at and wounded by 
two of their number on his way to the village, but still persisted 
with an inexplicable infatuation in discrediting the report. 

7. The attack immediately commenced. Brant with his In- 
dians leading the way, closely followed by Butler and his 
rangers. The house of Mr. Wells was first entered by a mixed 
party of Tories and Senecas, and his whole family, with one 
exception, — consisting of himself, wife, four children, mother, 
brother, sister, and three domestics, — ruthlessly massacred, 
one son, absent at school, only escaping. Colonel Alden, also 
an inmate of the house, was tomahawked and scalped in his at- 
tempted flight. The house of the aged pastor, Mr. Dunlap, was 
next attacked, his wife slain before his eyes, and his own life 

Attack upon Cherry Valley. — Indiscriminate massacre of the inhabitants. 



124 FIFTH PFRIOD. 

■paiied only throu^'h the interference of one of the M<h;i\\k 

cliiefk 

8. Colonel CftnipljeUH house wnM then surnmndcHl, ami in hi« 
absence his wife lunl fi»ur ehiKlren were Uiken |»n««»nerH. The in- 
diHeriniinate Klau;;hter of men, women, ami chililren went on with 
relentlfhi* fi-riK-iiy, until thirty-two of the inhahituntu ami i-lcvi'n 
Boliiient were idain ; all the dwellinj^H and out houseti, with their 
contentu, bunieil ; and forty priKouem, ineluilin;; the ottieom <»f 
the pirri*»n, carried into captivity. l>n the next day, after 
■ecurinf^ all the ibecp, cattle, and honicH of the Mettlement, and 
discharging the captured women and children, the enemy re- 
tired. 

9. It w hut jujuice to UniiiL to hUitc uiat iho chief reftjxHwi- 
hility of this savage outbreak and wholesale majntacre and rtib- 
lier}* of innocent and defenceless women and children n»Mtfd 
U|M»n the hetid of the infamous Hutler and hiK maliuinmt Uuul 
of tmit«»rM ami Tories, limnt exfrte<l himmdf thnMi^ihout the 
fearful conflict to save the ell'usion of IiKhkI and arrest the indiH- 
crimimito slau^liter K<oing on artmnd him. lie succeeded in 
protecting ami coneoalinu' several of the inluibitantH, wliilo But- 
ler |)en»onally dir • ' nil the o|M>mtions of the piirty. 

10. Of the wntLiu'i Kur\ivon* of thin bUxidy massacre, nearly 
two huntlrwl were dt-prived of house and home, and left almost 
entirely de«tituto of provision and cl«»thinp. Mont of those 
killtni were women and ehihln^n, and many of the pristinerK 
c< ' • d of men fv • •wi of Tory principles, and who conse 
quLULn deeme<i thviii»« i^es secure of prf»tection fn»m their cap 
tors. No distinction, however, seotns to have lieen miulu l>e 
twecn them and others by their infuriatc^i enemies, and n«tt 
even the influence of Hrant was able to afford them any exemp- 
tion from the jrenend Hlaui;htor. 

11. Ya\t\\ in June. 1779, General Clinton conducted an 
ex|)edition up the Hudson, resulting in the capture of 
Stony Point, a rcxrUy promontori* at the hea<l of Haverstraw 
Bay. on tlie west liank of the river, and Verphmrk's Point, 
nearly opposite on the eastern side. On the ITnh of July, how- 
ever. General Wa^iie, acting under detailed and minute iustruo* 

Brant** cumplirJtr. — Wrvirh^I condition of the rrmaininj; inbabilAntJ. 
»- Capture and recapture of Stonr Point and Vcrplanck'a Point 



THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 125 

tions from General Washington, recaptured the first-named 
fortress after a spirited and severe contest, with heavy loss of 
men and mihtary stores on the part of the British. The fort 
on Verplanck's Point was immediately surrendered, and soon 
afterwards Major Lee surprised a British garrison at Paulus 
Hook, now Jersey City, on the west side of the Hudson, oppo- 
site New York, killing thirty men, and taking a large number 
of prisoners. 

12. On the night of the 19th of July, Brant, at the head of 
sixty warriors of his tribe and twenty-seven Tories in Indian dis- 
guise, attacked the settlement at Minisink, in the western part 
of Orange County, lying on the Neversink River, at the foot of 
the Shawangunk Mountains. After setting fire to ten houses 
of the inhabitants, and destroying the church, barns, and mills 
in the neighborhood, they retired with their plunder, without 
attempting further violence. 

13. Intelligence of this outrage having been forwarded to 
Colonel Tusten at Goshen, that officer at once proceeded with 
about a hundred and fifty men, many of them volunteers, to 
the settlement, where a council was held as to the best mode 
of avenging the injury. Colonel Tusten opposed pursuit until 
the arrival of reinforcements to his small band ; but the major- 
ity, under the advice of Major Meeker, counselled an immediate 
march, which was accordingly directed. On the following morn- 
ins:, Colonel Hathorn arrived with a few recruits, and assumed 
command of the party as the senior officer. 

14. Ascertaining the superiority of the enemy's force, of which 
the predatory band of the preceding day was only a portion, the 
officers of the detachment again counselled prudence, but were 
again overruled by their rash associates ; nor did the death of 
Captain Tyler, who was soon afterwards shot down in a recon- 
noitring expedition by a party in ambush, induce greater cau- 
tion. They soon came up with the main body of the enemy, 
moving towards the ford at the mouth of the Lackawaxen 
Creek, when Colonel Hathorn, with the view of intercepting 
their flight, turned to the right to escape observation until he 
could accomplish this object. 

Surprise of British garrison at Paulus Hook. — Attack of Brant upon 
the settlement at Minisink. 



126 FIFTH PF/iinn. 

15. Bnint, having d- 1 this movement, immediately 
threw his force into the ix-ur of hi» opjxtiient, and phicHni tht-m 
advanta<^'oously in umhiisli, while he e\ecute<l a seriett of Kkilful 
and Riiccesjifiil manaMtvrfH to draw otf hiti attention. I'pwanU 
of fifty men wen» KejwimttHl from the main hotly, leavinjj the re- 
mainder to BUMtaiu the ithoek of the enemy's attaek. C>ccn{)yiii;; 
the summit of a hill, and drawn up in hollow squares, they 
maintaintHl the une<{util contest for several hours, when their 
shelteretl position became ex j>o»»e*l, and they wert» surrounded hy 
their foes, and comfti'lleil to sum*nder at discretion or cut their 
way thn>u^h their n>ervile«8 enemies. The wounded — aeventeen 
in numl>er- were immediately l»utchere<l, forty-Hve were slatif^h- 
terod in their efforts to retreat, and of the whole body thirty 
only ceca|)cd. 

16. But the hour of fenrfid retribution wxs at Iwuid. An ex- 
pedition was orpmijunl under the din * of Wa^K m, im<l 
placed under the command of C«enenii .^luiivan, for tnc ciiectual 
extirjriitinii of these siiva^re and brutal marauders: the main 
IkkIv, under Sullivan in jH-rson, to ojienito in Pennsylvania and 
the nei);hU»rh«M>d of the Wyoming Valley ; and the other, under 
(Jenernl James C'hnton, lin>ther of the (fOVcm(»r and father of 
l>e Witt t'linton, to move from C'anajoharie by way of Utaejfo 
I^ke and the Suatiueluuina Uiver to unite with the main bodjr 
at Tiopi PoinL 

17. iJeneral Clinton, at the head of fifteen humlred men, 
reached ('anjy«»harie on the IGth of June, and on the Buccee<ling 
day ct^>mmence<l the tmns|)ortation of his boaia — two hundred 
and ten in numl>er. with the nece«aar>' stores — to the head of 
()t»ep> lyike, a distance of twenty miles, over roads cut through 
the forests ami over the hilla. With the etficient assistance of 
Colonel Willett he accomplished this task in ten days, and on the 
1st of July |Ki<we<l down the lake to it* outlet, near the present 
village of Cooperstown, where he awaite<l orders fn>m Sullivan, 
erecting, in the nu^n while, a dam across the outlet for facility 
of trans{K>rtation, an well am for the destruction, by the oveHli»w 
of its waters on removal, of the crofM of the Indians on the 
banks uf the Susquchaima, — both which objects were fully ao- 

r. .:■!• nt Mlnlsink. — General* Sullivan and Clintoo't cxpeditioa sgain«t 

the ludiant. 



INDIAN ATROCITIES. 127 

complished, to the astonishment and surprise of the savages, who 
were ignorant of the cause. 

18. It was not, however, until late in August that the di- 
vision joined General Sullivan at Tioga, and their united forces 
proceeded up the east bank of the Chemung River, destroying 
the crops of the Indians in their progress. On the 29th the 
enemy were discovered in force, occupying an advantageous po- 
sition near the present site of Elmira. The brigades of Generals 
Clinton and Poor were advanced against the position occupied by 
the enemy's right, the possession of which was fiercely contested 
by Brant and his Indians, who, after a protracted and skilful 
defence, were at length driven back, and General Poor pressed to 
the attack of the left flank. 

19. Rallying his warriors to a renewed effort, and supported 
by his Tory allies, Brant again sounded the terrible war-whoop, 
and the contest was resumed with desperate energy. The su- 
periority of the invading force, however, and the presence of the 
artillery, soon compelled them to yield, and a precipitate retreat 
ensued. The fugitives were followed for two miles, leaving 
their dead and tomahawks and scalping-knives behind. During 
the ensuing two weeks their villages and crops were destroyed 
throughout the entire settlement, including the chief town, 
near Geneva, in which were some sixty houses surrounded by 
orchards and cornfields, and those on the present sites of Water- 
loo, Canandaigua, Honey oye, Genesee, and Cuyler, and on the 
banks of Cayuga Lake. 

20. On the 14th of September the army crossed the Genesee 
River, where, at the old town of Genesee, they found the muti- 
lated remains of Lieutenant Boyd and Sergeant Parker, who had 

'been cruelly put to death by torture, by command of Butler, 
notwithstanding the protection solemnly pledged them by Brant. 
Upwards of a hundred and twenty houses, seven hundred acres 
of growing corn, and vast quantities of other property belonging 
to the Indians, were here destroyed. Recrossing the river on 
the 16th, the troops commenced their homeward march, reaching 

Progress of the expedition. — Defeat of the Indians, and destruction of 
their villages and crops. — Martyrdom of Lieutenant Boyd and Sergeant 
Parker. — Destruction of the old Genesee village. — Return of the expedi- 
tion. 



129 FIFTH PElilOD. 

AVvoming on the 30th and I-jwtern Pennsylvania on the i:»ih 

of Octoln-T. 

21. Thi« severe chaistiRoment of the Indmnn, while it utlun-KMl 
a ttMii|K»nirv check to their ruvjif?ti* and Ruhject***! them to ^rr* :it 
8U' and dihtresj*. faiKd, neviTtlu'lcHH, in reducinjf to any 

CiJnHidemhle extent their etfei-tive numfhcal force, or prevent inj; 
their retaliation on the fmntier Bettlement* whenever a favor- 
able o|>i¥>rtunity wan |>rv«enttHl. The uholosale dentniction of 
i»n>i»*Ttv hv the invatlin^' anny, an»l the diagmccful hrutality of 
purtiouH of the tnxi|j« in enm" the worst liariMihtiefl of their 

onvage foes, retlectetl no Hinail Uukcreilit on the en? -«• in the 

wtiuuition of the friends of h ty ut home ana au r u«d. 



CJiAPTEK X. 

TnrARos or Arnold. — CArriBE Axn Kxkcitios or AvDfti. — CUMB 

or Tiir. Wak. 

1. On tlie Stl of Fthniary, 1780. •' 1 

trtMipA. r*»n«iHtinj; of al»out t\\u miuanu nun im ^ iiiiii, 
' con)n)niide<l hv Lieutenant-i-'olonel Thon»i>i«»n, of Miuma- 
chnxettn, ut 1 at a place known an Young's house, on the 

Tarrvtown UutuL in Wtittchenter County, a few miles north 
of the > " *' ' ke<l l»y a force of U-tween five and 

six humirru n y;n.M-f Jrom Kintrwhridgc and Fort Waahinjcton, 
under the comniand of < ' 1 Norton. The little pirrison, 
taken by surprise, were mii innl for defence; and after a 
pilhint and severe conflict «ir< - lied to retreat with the 

Kmw of one officer and thirteen nun mik'I. thirty-seven wounded, 
and twenty priRoncn*. The Koyal (Irenadiers having forced a 
house in which a few of the fugitives had taken refuge, it was 
set on fire and hume<i to the ground, with five woundetl men 
who were unahlc to effect their escape. 

2. In the year 1778 a strong re<louht, called Fort Clinton m 
honor of Geoi^ ClintoDf then Governor of New York, luul been 

RsMilts of the expedition. — Affiur «t Youns't boow, Tear Tarrrtowa. 



THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 129 

erected on the exti-eme end of the promontory of West Point, 
on the west bank of the Hudson, which, with other defences, in- 
cluding an enormous iron chain, each ring of which weighed one 
hundred pounds, stretched across the river, were intended to 
strengthen this important position and prevent the access of the 
British. 

3. Benedict Arnold, in an evil hour for his own fame, had been, 
in the fill of 1780, assigned to the command of this post. His 
previous splendid services in the French and Indian War and 
during Burgoyne's campaign had been somewhat obscured by 
subsequent events, while in temporary command at Philadelphia 
in 1778, and he had been reprimanded by Washington under 
sentence of a court-martial for alleged official malpractices and 
dishonesty. Still he possessed the full confidence of the Com- 
mander-in-Chief, and was believed to be entirely trustworthy. 

4. Smarting under the disgrace of his sentence and the repri- 
mand of the General, and oppressed by pecuniary embarrass- 
ments, he was induced, while in command of West Point, to 
enter into a treasonable correspondence with Sir Henry Clinton, 
the commander of the British army at New York, having for its 
ultimate object the betrayal of the fortress committed to his 
charge, with its dependencies, in consideration of fifty thousand 
dollars and a brigadier's commission in the English army. 

5. On the 3d of August, Arnold took command of the for- 
tress, establishing his head-quarters at a house on the opposite 
side of the river, formerly belonging to Colonel Beverly Robin- 
son, but which, on account of his adhesion to the Royalists, had 
been confiscated by the Americans. West Point, occupying a 
position which commanded the communication between the 
Eastern and Southern States, and being considered impregnable 
to attack, was regarded as the strongest and most important 
military post in the Union. A treasonable correspondence had 
been carried on between Arnold and Major John Andre, Adju- 
tant-General of the British army, in behalf of Sir Henry Clinton, 
for nearly eighteen months previous to the occupation of the 
fort, under the names of " Gustavus " and " John Anderson," 



Treason of Arnold. — Arnold's occnpation of West Point. — His treason- 
able correspondence A^^th Andre. 

9 - 



130 FIFTH PFnion. 

and a tempt inp opportunity low afforded for the culmina- 

tion of the iiejjotiationH, 

6. Anioltl wiift now deHinnw of a i»en!onal inteniew with 
Andre ; and with a view to this ohji-ot he infonned C'oK»nfI 
Slieldon, the conimamler of a troop of horse at Salem, West- 
chester County, thut he ex|>ooteil a |>en«»n from New Yt>rk with 
a fla^ of truce, directing; him to meet him at I s FVrry and 
c«cort him to hea«i-<|uarteni. > ii, in ij^onuiee <»f the pur- 
port of this commu: n, retunie<l it, with a mcssa^ that he 
woidtl l»e unahle to meet the flai», and expreHninj; the h<»j>e that 
(Jeiiernl Ann>M would h • l»o aide to do m*. To this ar- 
ni nt the latter aj«onte<i. 

7. On arriving; at the ferrr. however, neither Andr^ nor liev- 
erly Kohinitun. who was r iiit of the whole affair, np{K*are<l. 
Arnold inr wn»te to \' 'U. who was at Tap|Min 
with the mam IkkIv of the army, prej r<»r another atturk on 
New York, in: of his journey down the river for the 
examination of itM (I •* nnd theammirement <»f ^ \' 
other meetini: with Andn5, in was : i for the 
2nth of S. riinton in the mean whde had, on the 
18th, sent the sloop-of-war Vulture up the river with Ilohinnon. 
who The*! a note to Arnold at Verplanrk's r«»int, requ« t 
ing an inteniew, O' ly with rrferencc to the d i of 
hin pro|»orty « 'it, 

8. A few hours aftrr the n- m rif thin h'tter, W,. 

ton himmdf, n ' hy Oenenil I. '<•. arrive*! at \ er 

planok's Point, on his way to Hnrtfonl to meet Count Kcx-hain 
In^au. AnioM showed him I on's letter, and was eautione*! 

by him to a%*oid all corr' ;«Miee with the latter, as, in view 

of all the o<'rurrenees of the past year, e:i! "d to im; 

bim unfavt»ml>ly in the public eMimation. I'Ih- Ceiiend with 
his suite cnmseti the river in Anmld's Imritre, whrro, from s<»me 
chance ol>servation of Ijifayette's. and a s' iis scrutiny by 

W.i«lii!i_'i..ii of the Vulture, which lay at anchor in the distance, 
be l)ec:ime seriously apprehensive of the ory of his treason. 

9. On the succeodinij day he communi«-Htf<l with Robinson, 
apprisinv; him of his intention to semi a trusty mossentrer on the 

Arrsnevmenu for sn intcrriew. — > Arriral of Washin^^ton and Lafarcttr. 

— ApprvhcnsioDS of Arnold. 



ARNOLD AND ANDR^. 131 

next night to Dobbs's Ferry, or on board the Vulture, enclosing 
a copy of his letter to Andre, both which were transmitted by 
Robinson to Sir Henry Clinton, who, on the morning of the 
20th, despatched Andre to Dobbs's Feny, with positive instruc- 
tions not to go within the American lines, to assume no dis- 
guise and receive no papers. Failing to meet any one at the 
ferry, Andre proceeded up the river to the Vulture, which he 
reached at seven o'clock, but found there no messenger from 
Arnold, as he had been led to expect. 

10. A Mr. Joshua H. Smith, who resided near the village of 
Haverstraw and sustained a respectable character, having been 
frequently employed by Arnold and his predecessor in obtain- 
ing intelligence of the movements of the British, had been ap- 
prised by the former of the expected conference, and requested 
to bring " Mr. Anderson " on shore from the Vulture. Being 
unable to procure a boat for this purpose, he sent a message to 
that effect to head-quarters, and Arnold went himself to Ver- 
planck's Point, and despatched a messenger to Continental Vil- 
lage for his own barge, with directions to forward it to the creek 
in Haverstraw near Smith's house. 

11. On the night of the 21st, Smith, with muffled oars, de- 
scended the river to the Vulture, returning at a late hour w4th 
Major Andre, who, in spite of the remonstrances of Robinson, 
persisted in going on shore in his imiform, concealed, however, 
by a large blue surtout. Landing at the foot of Clove Moun- 
tain, six miles below Stony Point, he was conducted by Smith 
to the presence of Arnold, who awaited his arrival among the 
bushes in the vicinity. Their conference was prolonged until 
daybreak, when they rode together to the residence of Smith. 
The challenge of a sentinel, and the cannonade on the Vulture, 
compelling her to drop still farther down the river, were the 
first intimation to the Unfortunate Andre of his presence within 
the American lines. 

12. Everything having been satisfactorily arranged between 
the conspirators, Arnold returned at ten o'clock to his quarters ; 
and Andre, exchanging his uniform for a disguise, and furnished 
with a pass from Arnold, with several important papers concealed 

Progress of the negotiations between Arnold and Andre'. — Interview be- 
tween Arnold and Andre. — Consummation of the treason. 



132 FIFTH PERIOD. 

in his 8t<»ckings oontaiiiin^ full information of the condition and 
Stren^nh <»f the fort luid the uminj;cmeiit« for the niovementa 
of the pirris<in in ciu»e of oil alomi, procoodfcl on liorsehack, ac- 
comptinied by Smith, to Kind's Fcrrj*, whu h they crowied, and 
profociktl through the un|»er port of Wisti lit-«tor County on 
their route to the Vulture, Smith having refujKHl, on pretence 
of fiiti^Mie an<l illnctta, to convey him thither by bo«t, 

13. At about nine o'chK-k in the evening; tht*y were challenpHl 
by a sentinel ei^ht miles from the ferry, and Tiiptain lioyd, the 
comnmnder of the pout, made his apj»earftnce, inHi>ecteil their 
pMiportA, and demanded their I -< Apfmrently Bntinfie^i 
with the explanation pven by Smith, he infonne<l him of tho 
dan^eitnia c* u of the rooda I» to White IMuinM, in- 
fested aa thev werv bv ('ow-Hc»V8 aiid ."^ pm of Uith nniiiea, 
and adviNiHl their riMu nt the jioftt until the next morning. 
Unwilling to excite incr arrangement was 
tneotcd to, ami they pmuMMi the night wry uueaaily at the 
house of Andreaji Miller, who lived near by. 

14. At dawn on the §ucc« morning they resumed tli< r 
journey, taking the route to i'lufn Bridge, .\ndri' l»eing in un 
iiflually cheerful Kpiritii, and convc: freely with his comivin- 
ion on litemry and other topics. Aiut |)artaking of a simple 
br ' <<t at a house aliout two milea north (»f tho I 
Siutth left .\ndre and returned to his family, then at FitthkilL 
Tho latter prt>cco<ii«<l alone on his |>erihiUH journey throuLfh 
Tnrrytown. IWtwccn eleven and twelve oVU^k his pn»gn's« 
was int •.•<1 by three militia-men, — John PauMing. I)avi<l 
Willi i: - liid Isaac Van Wart, — while watching with their c<»m- 
rades fur stragglers and stray cattle from the British lines, who, 
perceiving his appmach, at once arrest*-*! him. 

15. liosing his presence of mind at this unexpected •l-'-t.K ]<•, 
Andr^, aware of the character of the region, and its coiuiiion 
occu|)ation by stragglers from lx>th aniiies indincriminat- " 
immediately expressed to his captors his hope that they be), tu- I 
to his own party. "Which pnrty!" demanded PntiM 

'* The lower," replied .\ndr^*. ** 1 do,** observed the former . 
upon which Andn* imprudently avowed himself a British officer, 

AndrTt retreat and capmre st Tsrrjtown. 



THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. I33 

on particular business, and begged not to be detained for a mo- 
ment. This sealed his doom. 

16. On being informed of the truth by his captors, he pro- 
duced Arnold's passport, and endeavored to excuse his previous 
statement by his apprehensions of falling in with a British 
party ; but neither these nor his liberal offers of money and 
his gold watch were of any avail with these stern and incor- 
ruptible patriots. On discovering the important papers con- 
cealed on his person, he was conducted to the nearest military 
station at North Castle. 

1 7. On the next day he was transferred, for greater sec\irity, 
to Colonel Sheldon's quarters at Salem, where he was recognized 
by Major Tallmadge, who urged Colonel Jameson, the com- 
mander of the post, not to return him to Arnold, and took 
charge of him himself He was, however, very injudiciously per- 
mitted to communicate with Arnold, and thereby was the first 
to apprise him of the failure of their plans, and to enable him 
to make his escape, which he accordingly effected on the same 
day, in the Vulture, having taken a hurried leave of his wife, 
and manned his barge without a moment's delay. 

18. Washington, in ignorance of all these events, arrived 
early in the morning at Arnold's head-quarters, and, having 
breakfasted, crossed over to West Point. Finding him absent, 
he spent some time in an examination of the defences of the 
post and returned in the afternoon, when he was informed by 
Colonel Hamilton of the whole conspiracy and its detection, but 
too late to prevent the escape of the traitor. 

19. Meanwhile his unfortunate victim. Major Andre, was 
treated with great kindness and consideration by Major Tall- 
madge, who soon contracted a strong friendship and regard for 
him, and indulged him in every privilege of which his situation 
admitted, permitting him to communicate freely with Washing- 
ton, which he did, informing him of his name and rank, the 
motives from which he acted, and his readiness to submit to 
such consequences as the stern laws of honorable warfare ex- 
acted. 

20. On the 29th of September, Washington, after visiting 

Washington's discovery of the treason. — Conduct of Andre. 



134 FIFTH FERIOD. 

WcRt Point, and inukinjj even* preparation for it* defimoe, went 
to TiipiHin, whero the unny wti« encamped. Andr6, in the maui 
time, had Ix'en taken from Sheldon's quarters to Ilobinson's 
houHO, thence to \Ve«t Point, where he remained until the l!><ih, 
when he wvm conductcMl to TupiMUi. Hm behavior <lurin;? this 
period, and hiii iinatfected ^rratitudo for all the indul^^ences 
permitted him, securtHl him the sincere sympathy and kindly 
regards of all with whom he came in contact. 

21. A IxMrd of officers, coDaistin^ of six major-geoeimli Aod 
ei^ht bripidicrs, was convened immediately on the arrival of 
Washington, before which Andr6 was tried, convicted, and sen- 
tenced to suffnr death. Kvery effort was mode by Sir Honr\' 
Clinton to avert bis fate, and every opjiort unity afforded by 
Was). 1 for his defepoc His only nHpicMt was that ho 
mi^dit lie shot, as lieoaiDe a aoldier ; but this m:' u of his 
■entonco was deemed incompatible with the stnci rules of the 
■er^'ioe. It WHM .-d, however, tliat Waal. :» would not 
have been unwilling tu have cxcliangc<l him fur the vdo traitor 
wboee du))o he liad been. 

22. .-Vniold, meanwhile, had t^ikcn up hu uK xl** in the city 
of New York, where a pillant effort was made lor l»i« rupture by 
the chivalrous l.'haui|io. who ftMinHnl todeacrt to the lintish army, 
and met with a cordial ree< • '* : the traitor. A%*ailing 
him.Helf with pn>in|)titude of tiu- laciiiUcs thus obtainc<l, a plan 
for M'izin^ and carrA'in^ him off was matured, but on the day 
preccilin^ that fixe<l for itii execution* was unfortunately foiled 
l)y an onier fur the embarkation of C'liompe for the Chesapeake. 
He, however, embnused the earliest op|M»rtunity to desert from 
the Pritish army and retxim to his comrades for the vindication 
of his honor and patriotiKui. Arnold remained in the senicc 
until the c1(>ac of the war, when he repaired to Kngland, where 
he died, several years afterwards, in oliscurity and disgrace, thtis 
closing in darkest infamy a career which might have been dis- 
tincrui.nhed beyond most of his compeers for bravery and daring 
henusin. 

23. The fatal day for his execution having arrived, Andr6, at 
noon of the 2d of October, arrayed in the full dress of a British 

Trial, ronviction, and toileoce of Andrv> br • miliurjr coart. —> Efforts for 
the cmpcare of Arnold. — His fabscqaait 



CLOSING OF THE WAR. 135 

officer, with the exception of the sword, was conducted by a 
large detachment of troops, accompanied by an immense con- 
course of people, to the gallows, which was erected on the sum- 
mit of a hill about a quarter of a mile west of Tappan Village. 
He manifested some surprise on becoming aware of the manner 
of his execution, of which he had not previously, as it would 
seem, been apprised ; but soon recovering himself, adjusted the 
halter with his own hands, bandaged his eyes, called the spec- 
tators to witness that he died like a brave man, when the cart 
moved from beneath him, and in a few moments all was over. 

24. Thus perished, in the twenty-ninth year of his age, the 
chivalrous and unfortunate Major Andre, around whose prema- 
ture fate the sympathies of all Europe and America were clustered 
and still remain. Contrasting his treatment, the indulgent 
clemency extended to him by his judges, and the kind and ten- 
der respect which has been paid to his memory, with the brutal 
barbarities inflicted by the British upon the young American 
patriot Hale, under precisely similar circumstances, we may well 
be content to await the verdict of posterity ! 

25. On the 21st of November a party of Tory refugees from 
Rhode Island, occupying the St. George's Manor House on 
Smith's Point, Long Island, which they had fortified, were dis- 
lodged by Major Benjamin Tallmadge, under the direction of 
Washing-ton, a severe chastisement inflicted upon a portion of 
the garrison, — who after its surrender fired upon the assailing 
party from one of the houses, — and a British vessel lying in 
the neighborhood secured with its crew. From thence Major 
Tallmadge, with Lieutenant Brewster and ten men, proceeded to 
Coram, where he destroyed a large quantity of forage collected 
for the use of the British army, and, having successfully accom- 
plished the object of his expedition, returned to their quar- 
ters at Fairfield, Connecticut without the loss of a single man. 
Seven of the enemy were killed and wounded, and four officers 
and fifty soldiers taken prisoners. Major Tallmadge received 
the thanks of Congress and the warm approval of the Com- 
mander-in-Chief for his bravery and that of his men. 

Execution of Andre. — General sympathy in his fate. — Contrast between 
Andre and Halef— Capture of St. George's Manor House, Long Island. — 
Destruction of British supplies at Coram, Suffolk County. 



136 HFTU PK/iJ' 

26. The Bi)lendi<l victon* at Y«»rkti)WTi on the U>th 
' * * of Octul>cr was virtiiullv a close of tho war. I'ulh. 
n -:8 pcrvatkni every |K>rtion of the countn*, and the I3ilj 

of i>ei'cinl>er wa« itet a|«ut as a day of general thankapviiu'. 
Chilton wan Bii|x'nkxled in his ci>nunHnd by Sir Guy 1 arlctun, 
who Boon aftrr^unlM arrive*! in New York ; hut nil further hiw 
tilities were HUH|»iijded. in Marvh, 1781', Lord North retiretl 
from the UrititUt Tiilunet, and I'jirletun wiui dirvi'ted by his sue 
ceaaur, I^ord lUH-'knigham, to open ne^' u» for a treaty of 

|M.»aoe. The American Con^^ruea a; John Juy, John 

A iHun Franklin, Thonuu JciUtmiu, and Henry l^u 

reUBf to act aM c«>niniiiutioneni for thia ]>ur]ioHe on the jNirt of 
the I'nitfd StatrH. (»n the Mnh of November the pndim 
w 1 at I'ariN: and on the 3d of September, 1783. a tlctui 

ittve trvuty, reco>n"<>ii^ the iudeptmdaooe of the Uuitcnl Statea, 
waa ouncluded. 

27. (>n the 3d of Non^ ; ' • r the Ctnitiii. nf.il nnny wan <1.^ 
banded by order of * ^ud on the '2M\i Wtuth 

cnteretl the city of New York, an<l the liriliKh tnwipa t<»<>k ilit-ir 
final de|«rture. On the 4th <»f I>ecenil»er, Waal. n t*Kik nn 

ti' ^ fan'wcU of his oh! \\n in artuH. with whom ho 

had U-< II - ]on^ and no clowly united in the Htni^);le for nn 
tionnl ii idenee, and pn- ! to Annnixili.H, whereConjjrenK 

Mtm then in ih*iw: : Having I \v n*«ipied hia wnnmiHuion 

to that lx)dy aa i mder in i'luef, he retunn'*! to M<»unt 

Vernon aa a private i • • **tn to lie recalled fn>m ita quiet 
Hhadea to preside over the deatiniea of the nation bo had 
founded. 



( 'lo«e of the war. — ' ' — Nefrotiations for pfarr. — Con 

rluoon of trraiT. — l)i« :\Ttu\ — T'^ iur«ation of New York, 

h\ th«- lU 'i-^ — rartiti^- W I : . • M A ! !.i« oflferr* — Tto»igii« 

tion of b. .iuittion, ai. . in< :.: '.'M .:.: \\:i)Oii. 




Old City Hall in Wall Street, New York, 1789. 

SIXTH PERIOD. 

THE STATE GOVERNMENT TO THE CONSTITU- 
TION OF 1821. 



CHAPTER I. 

Adoption of the Constitution of the United States. 

1. The war being now over, and the independent exist- 
ence of the United States as a member of the family of 
nations having been officially recognized, it speedily became evi-. 
dent that the provisional constitution of government as estab- 
lished by the Articles of Confederation adopted by the Congress 
of 1777 was inadequate in many essential respects to the pres- 
ent exigencies of the public welfare. 

Position of affairs at the close of the war. 



188 SIXTH PllIUOD. 

2. Bv tlmt inBtniment the sevenil StAtos of the Union ^ 
njerely leafpie<l toj^^ther for the atx*onipli»liment of a 
purpose, retaining in all thin^ their individual Boverei^itv, 
and onlv Burrendcrin^ it in any ca»e at the pleuure of their 
accredited representatives, acting under iustnictionB from their 
own le^rinlature. Tliat pur|K>(io having now been acc(unplihhnl. 
some more effective provision was deemed indispensable to the 
functions of a ! d ^'ovennnent in its dealings with other 
nation^ and its dutchargo of its obligations to its own oon 
ueiit memlx'ni. 

3. Public attention in all the States was thin'ft»re tunie<l to 
the coiwidcmtion and <iiH<.MiHj4ion of such a nuMliHcation of the 
cxJHtin^' Kvntem as ^ ! renuNly its nuinifettt defects, and, 
while pmviding for an I'llicient adminiMtmtion of the domes- 
tic and r H «>f the Tnion as a nation, should at the 
same tim* • urv to its Dit'niU>ni n*H{Hvtively the rij^hts and 
powen* jiertuauug to them in their ori^'inal aijwuity as sovereign 
StatcH. 

4. The .State of New York oi la commanding position, 
at this time, anion;; her sister Suites. The prominent part 
taken by her • ~ in the Uevolutionar}' Ktni;o^le ; tbe fiu^t 
that she alone ot uil ihc I'nited ('oloiiii>s had [tn»mptly met every 
deinanil and fulfdled every rrtjuisitiun of the l*n- d (»ov- 
cmnuMit, and even made a«lvanct*« on her own credit to supply 
the di * ies of other States ; her extensive commerce, and 
"i-ast tirriiory, and the ability and patriotism of her leading 
statesmen, — all entitled her to n|ietial consideration, and gaTe 
her a powerful inf! in the natioiuil councils. 

6. As early as i«5J, immediately aOer the conclusion of 
the treaty of peace, a f ' ' of jcidottsy of the oonoentration 
of power in the hands ui me central government was man; 
fe.sted by the repeal in the Ixn^islaturc of an act passed in 1 781 . 
on the recommendation of Congress, fn^'anting to the I'nitod 
States the import duties collected in the p«»rt of New York 
and directing their collection by officers appointed by Congresh 
and by substituting in its stead a HJinilar appropriation of th* 
duties, to 1)0 c< -' * d, however, bv StJite othoera. In the suc- 



Artkks of Confcdrmtion. — Pmpoddooi for modifiration of the Anklrs. 
— The position of New York. — SiAtc joaloasj of tbe nw*iimnl govenuneat. 



I 



THE STATE GOVERNMENT. I39 

ceeding year an act was passed by the same body establishing 
a custom-house and a revenue system in place of the regula^ 
tions previously adopted by Congress. 

6. These acts were the natural result of the large increase 
of revenue accruing to the State by the revival of trade and 
commerce consequent on the return of peace and by the 
navigation laws of the other States, which rendered the city 
of New York the gi-eat commercial mart of the Union. Every 
effort to restore to Congress" the disposition and control of this 
revenue proved futile. The collectors were appointed by, and 
made amenable exclusively to, the State authorities ; and the 
Legislature, in 1786, went so far as to make the duties payable 
in the bills of credit issued by the State. 

7. Congress, perceiving the dangerous consequences to the 
stability of the national credit of this enactment, — the in- 
evitable effect of which would be the rapid depreciation of 
Government securities by the unlimited issue of an incon- 
vertible paper currency, —requested Governor Clinton to con- 
vene the Legislature for its reconsideration. This, however, was 
declined by the Governor, upon the ground that no sufficient 
cause was shown for the exercise of this extraordinary power, 
the decision of the Legislature having been but recently made 
upon full consideration and mature deliberation. 

8. In the mean time a convention of commissioners from 

the several States, held at Annapolis, in Maryland, in Sep- ^^^^' 
tember, 1786, — New York being represented by General Hamil- 
ton, — for the purpose of taking into consideration the trade and 
commerce of the United States, and the necessity and expediency 
of a uniform system of commercial regulations, recommended 
the calling by Congress of a convention of delegates to meet at 
Philadelphia, in May of the ensuing year, for the sole and ex- 
press purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation, and 
reporting to Congress and the several State legislatures such 
amendments and modifications as should, when confirmed by the 
former, and agreed to by the requisite number of States, be 

Collection of revenue. — Proceedings of the State Legislature. — Proceed- 
ings of Congress. — Governor Clinton declines calling an extra session.— 
Convention of commissioners at Annapolis. — Recommendation for the call 
of a national convention at Philadelphia. 



140 SIXTH py.iuou. 

found n<loqtmt« to the exigencies of the Government and the 
preservation of the Tnioiu 

9. Conj^TCHS 1)11 ving adopted this recommendation, it 
lieciuno nect-sjuiry fur the Ixyinhiture of New York, at ita 
regular scKhion in the winter of 1787, to deteniiine whether 
the State idiuuld lie represented in that ImmIv, and if ro, by 
whom. General Humilton Bucceetle<l in procuring an el 
to the LogiaUtture as a repreacntAtive of the citv of New York, 
and his father-in-law, General Philip Sihuyler, was alrendv a 
member of the Senate. In co: with Chief Justice Jny, 

Chancellor Livingston, and the Vun ]!• - ' • . •!. <<e men were 
It I IU4 the leading cl of the KctifraJ Government ; 

wbiio Governor Clinton, who hi ii succeiwivelv re-elected to 

his preaent {wnition from tenn tu term, since the ad of 

the State Constitution in 1777, with .T Viiteti of the 

Stipreme Court, John I Jinking. stiltmH|ueiitly Chir r, and 

Melancthon .Smith, were the prominent lulvocates of Hhut were 
deemed Stnti>s' nghtn. 

10. The Ix'gisliiture, on its assembling, nAer an animated 
debate, in which Hiunilton took a leadmg jArt, approved, bv n 
strong vote, the pnx'eetling of the Governor in reference to the 
convocation of an extra sciwion. Messrs. Yates, lAnsing. and 
Hamilton were :t ted delegates to the National Convention 
at Philadelphui , lluir |»owers ' however, speciidly re 
e\ricted to the revision of the ex;iinng Articles of Confad ei a 
tion, in acconlanco with the call of the c<»nvention. 

1 1. (>n tiie assembling, in May f<»ll . of the National ion 
vention, pre«i«led over by General \V amii.ngton, a gn^at diver 
aity of views prv\*ailed among the <l ' 'oa as to the pn-j-T 
course to l»e pursued. One portion oi Uiis numlier, inclu«! 
Mcfwrs. Yatee and Lansing of New York, insisted \\\nm oonui. 
ing their deliberations to such an amendment of the Articles ol 
Confeilemtion as should enlarge the jiowers of the national r • 
cnmient, and give it greater efticiency. Another, under Uic 
lead of Hamilton, advocated the formation of an entirely new 
Constitution, with ample provittions for the concentration of tho 

I*r«cr«iing» of the I>cin*lmure in It* urAvHin of 1787. — Approral of the 
Gijvomor'* courM- — Apjiointmrnt of clrlr|;atrs to the NatkraiU CoOTcntioa. 
— Tbdr iastructions. — i>tatc of parties ia Uw c o ars nlk m. • 



THE FEDERALIST. 141 

executive power in a president and senate, to hold office during 
good behavior, with the power to appoint State governors and 
control State legislation, a House of Hepresentatives elected 
triennially, and a permanent judiciary. 

12. A third, whose views ultimately predominated, headed 
by Randolph of Virginia, in accordance with the views of James 
Madison, a leading statesman of that Commonwealth, contended 
for the establishment of a government representing in its Con- 
stitution both the national and State sovereignty and the peo- 
ple collectively, — through the President and House of Repre- 
sentatives, chosen virtually by the peoj^le, and a Senate, the 
members of which should be elected by the State legislatures 
respectively. 

13. On the final prevalence of this plan, the delegation from 
New York, with the exception of General Hamilton, withdrew 
from the convention, regarding its determination in this respect 
as at variance with their instructions and with the explicit object 
to which the convention itself was restricted. The Constitution 
— having, however, been completed in accordance with the views 
of the majority — was, on the 17th of September, adopted and 
submitted for approval to the several States, through conventions 
to be called for that purpose, the assent of nine of the thirteen 
States being required for its ratification. 

14. Immediately on its publication in New York, a violent 
and spirited contest ensued between its advocates and op- 
ponents, who, in accordance with their previous proclivities, 
ranged themselves into two distinct and well-organized parties, 
the former known as Federalists, and the latter as Anti-Federal- 
ists. Hamilton, in conjunction with Madison and Jay, com- 
menced and continued in the public papers the admirable series 
of articles entitled, " The Federalist," which exerted a power- 
ful influence upon the public mind, and essentially contributed 
to the final adoption of the Constitution. Its opponents, how- 
ever, under the lead of Governor Clinton and his associates, 
backed by the popular majorities which had hitherto sustained 
them, rallied with great enthusiasm and ability to the defence 
of State rights. 

Submission of the Constitution to the States. — Organization of par- 
ties. — '' The Federalist." 



112 sixrn PKHi' 1' 

15. On the one hand it mm ur^^cd by the anailunts of the 
propo«c<l( onKtitiition, that by its adoption a fatal blow would lie 
struck at the iudoj>ondent ► ,ajty of the State*, by the grad- 

ual alviorption of the princiiwU fuuctionn of (^ovcrumcnt by the 
ccntnil {lower ; that the wealth and inimeniM* reoounxm, of New 
York e«|>ecially, iiiHtead of Inrin^ de%'oted to the expannion, de- 
velopment, and cultivation of it« viuit territory', and the prosper- 
ity and welfare of it« own citizena, would be 1 iteii to 
the imtional ctiflem ; that itM y. lonuice of |iopuluiion would 
bo >• -^1. through the a^^ucy of tlie Senate, to the intereitt« 
of the KumUer Stut<.>ft, and the ; \r element swallowed up by 
an arlMtocnitic ooooeutmtion of the executive and le^ihlutive 
doiiartnients ; that the inc. tendency of such a state of 
thinpf would bo to the c ' iuaent of a virtually tuonari'lii' J 
govcnuiient ; and that the Imtneni of the instrument stibmttt< d 
for rat 11 clearly and |«il{inbly exceetled the jiowers con 
ferreti u)*>ii then), which ict**! only a t ii ami nuKliHci^ 
tioi), instoed of a repeal, ot the • i t'onfeiienitioiL 

It). To thcMO anniments it «a^ I i>v tlie KeilemliMta, that 

the distribution of X\\e power* of the new jrr»venmient was so 
carefully amin;ri*<l. that, sti far frr»m en ' it to trench \\\ i 

the juriNtliction and soverei^ity of the > it was itself liable 

to constant and Bori«>us en« • on their {lart, ther. 

wenkcnin)^ insti>ad of stre>n^theiui itive and oven the 

1« ive department ; that til <lemry. crmsihT 

as it did of a mere le:^nie of ii ident States, held ttt^rc'tht-r 

only by the < rent of ail its memlieni, and subject to 

disintegration at tiie pieaffiire of any, was wholly inadetjtiate to 
the purpo.Mos of poveniment, and unRUscc[>tible of any alterati-n 
not mdic*ally affectiii;: the fundamental prinriplc of its Constitu- 
tion ; that in view of the pn»l«ble aKttent of the rtHpiisite num^- r 
of States for the mtirtcAtion of the new CouKtitution, independrnt 
ly of the vote of New York, that State woubl occupy the unenvi- 
able and untenable {>of(ition of a neutral h«»v< surround* ••! 
by a grvat nation, Ixiiuid t<»}.'t^ther by a fe<lerativc union : n:. 1 
that ample provision was made by the instrument submitted lur 
adoption, by which the ri>;hts and interests of all chumes of 
citixens and all State oipinixations were effectttally ^ 

Ax^piments of the Anti-Fcdermlists. — Kcply of the FcUrralisu. 



I 



THE STATE GOVERNMENT. 143 

17. Governor Clinton, in his annual message to the 
Legislature of 1788, avoided all allusion to the proposed 
submission of the Constitution to the approval of the State. 
The subject was, however, brought before the Legislature on the 
1 7th of January, by a resolution proposing the call of a conven- 
tion for that purpose, which, after some opposition, was passed ; 
and in the ensuing spring sixty-seven delegates were elected 
to the convention at Poughkeepsie, of whom a clear majority 
were opposed to the Constitution. Alexander Hamilton, John 
Jay, Chancellor Livingston, Chief-Justice Richard Morris, and 
James Duane were returned from the city of New York ; and 
Messrs. Yates and Lansing, Governor Clinton and his brother 
James Clinton, and Melancthon Smith, were among the dele- 
gates from the other counties. 

18. The convention organized on the 17th of June by the 
appointment of George Clinton as President. A majority of 
its members strongly urged the calling of a new national con- 
vention, for the purpose of making additional amendments 
specified by them, or at the least giving their assent to the pro- 
posed Constitution on condition of the adoption of such amend- 
ments ; but on the receipt of intelligence of the ratification of 
the Constitution by the requisite number of States, contented 
themselves with its adoption on the 26th of July, by a vote of 
thirty to twenty-seven, with the recommendation merely of the 
proposed amendments. 

19. On the 13th of September the new Constitution was 
officially proclaimed ; and on the 8th of December the Legis- 
lature, specially convened by Governor Clinton, proceeded to 
the choice of five delegates to represent the State in the con- 
cluding session of the Continental Congress. Provision was also 

" made, on a subsequent day, for the choice of presidential elec- 
tors, and the State divided into congressional districts, in 
pursuance of which, Egbert Benson, William Floyd, John Ha- 
THORN, Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, and Peter Sylvester were 
elected representatives in the First CongTess of the United States. 



Election of delegates to State Convention at Poughkeepsie. — Eatification 
of the Constitution. — Official proclamation of the Constitirtion. — Special 
session of the Legislature. — Choice of presidential electors and representa- 
tives in Congress. 



ni S/XTJI PEIllOD. 

20. The two Houses not U ^i'ie u> igroe upon the m ' 
of chooiiiu^ acnutuns the Sutc rciiuiiuetl unrepruncntcil iti u* 
Senate during' the tirnt 8i'hm«iu. Au addresn to Cou^^rvHS wu'> 
n ' - ), ri<}u< ntiti^ the call uf uiiuthcr convoutiuu at th< 
earlitMt pnu t;.ai>Ii- ]x-r:<Kl, fur the pur|M»t»o of prupoiuiig ainemi 
metitii tu the imttiitiul i' 'ittiou. Im]M>rtant iiiipruveiueiitA 

iu lepil juri- ' uoc, cUicUV pn.'|»areii hy Sjuauel Joix s, uu 
eminent Uw}er, were ahio ii^pi&Ao<l upon the ■tatute-buuk of 
the State. 



CI! A PTKK I I. 
OaoAJviSATiox or rna Natiokal Gotkiijimkjit. — Ikacociatioic or 

WtKlliaCTOX A%%i AUAMB. — UrKRXAL iMfMoVUMkXT*. — TUBUC 
I.AliUA. 

1. Early in Fehniary. \1^^, the prwiidentiul ihvtoni of tin* 
<*nil Stuto* aMenihle*! nt tlieir rvufiective 1m, iukI 

un»i made ch«»ico <»f l»K«»ina: Wamiiinotox of Vir- 

ginia an I'" ~ i'-nt, and John Adamh uf MiiKNiu-hiutettii u« \ 
President, of the I'nittH! .StatoiL The citv of New York hu\ 

w 

been ai ° oiw aa the aoat of the national ;;i>venHnent, 

the City HaJI, in which the < n^tui whm acvuh 

tonieil to hold ita nemionH, waa n ! and < A for th** 

accotiiiixxlHtion of ita Huecciuionu Dn Uio 4th of Mnrch. the day 
ap|Miinted for the «»rjfi -n of the new |»ovemment, the li il' 

was thrown o{ien nniid the tiring of • i and rini^in^' of \» 

A few onlv of the meinU-m of < howe%'er, made ti 

ap|»earancc ; and in their alwience the reaiduc, owint; to the state 
of the rooils and the . of puhlic conveyancca, awnit«>d 

for U))wanU of a njonth the arrival of their collea^fiJoa. On the 
6th of April a sufficient nuinlxT had arrive<l to constitute a 
quonnn ; and the S-nate and H<»U8c of Hepreju-ntativm « 
an orpmization. and procec<led to count the votes for Frcaident 
and Vice-President and declare the result 



ItectmintendAtion for neir roiirrntiun i" i>r^tt*f*^ Aiiii-tiiliiwnik t.i (tii< ( 
itiintiun. — Impn>venMMit ufiho Uw. — i 
drnt. — On;mnixatu>n uf tbc new guvcrnmcnc — J 
at Nvw York. 



II 



WASHINGTON'S INAUGURATION. 145 

2. On the 21st, Vice-President Adams arrived in the city, 
having been conducted with a mihtary escort from the boundary 
of the State to Kingsbridge by Governor Chnton, where he was 
received by both branches of Congress, and accompanied by them 
to the City Hall. Two days afterwards. President Washington 
arrived from Mount Vernon, whence his journey to the capital 
had been a continuous triumphal procession. At Alexandria, 
Georgetown, Philadelphia, and Trenton his progress was greeted 
with the most enthusiastic demonstrations. 

3. At Elizabethtown, New Jersey, he was taken in charge by a 
committee of Congress, and embarking in a barge, splendidly 
decorated, was conducted to the foot of Wall Street, where he 
was received by the Governor and the municipal authorities and 
a large procession of citizens, and escorted to his residence in 
Cherry Street. In the evening the city was brilliantly illumi- 
nated, and a splendid display of fireworks closed the festivities 
of the dav. 

4. At noon on the 30th of April, after the performance of re- 
ligious services in all the churches of the city, the inauguration 
ceremonies were commenced by the formation of a procession 
from the house of the President elect, headed by the city cavalry, 
and consisting of the members of Congress and heads of depart- 
ments in carriages, followed by Washington in a separate car- 
riage, and his military family and resident foreign ministers in 
others. 

5. On reaching the Senate Chamber he was received by the 
Vice-President and conducted to the balcony fronting on Broad 
Street, where, in the presence of an immense crowd, the oath 
of office was administered by Chancellor Livingston. Return- 
ing to the Senate Chamber, the President delivered the inaugu- 
ral address, after which the whole assembly proceeded on foot 
to St. Paul's Church in Broadway, where prayers were read by 
the chaplain to the Senate, and at their conclusion the Presi- 
dent was escorted to his residence. A display of fireworks in 
the evening concluded the ceremonies. 

6. The triumph of the Federalists in the adoption of the Con- 
stitution, and the prevailing popular sentiment in favor of the 

Arrival of tlie President and Vice-President. — Triumphal progress of 
Washington. — Inauguration ceremonies. 

10 



14 G SIXTH PKRIOD. 

new adminiHtration of the gciicnil guvcmmcnt, gftTO riae to a 
strong feeling *tf or.TKMiition to the re-election of Uovemor 

Clinton, whose ; tenn would expire in July. ViLtirouB 

effort.'* were acconliiij^ly uuule, prejioratory to the April • ii"«, 

to replftce him l»y Associut**- Justice Uobekt Yatbj, of the Su- 
preme (Viurt, who ulthough a leading opponent of the new Con- 
Htitution, Imd iiince itji ratification unifonnly ^ven it, ofhciully 
and otherwise, hid tiup|}ortf and who, from hi** T«*T)ultirity with 
the Anti-FVK'nilistii, might, it waa 8Up{»u(tiHl, ' in Huflicient 

numlter of hii» frienda from the auppurt of C2ovenior Clinton to 
iuiiure hiii defeat 

7. The content, however, after an aniumtetl canvoiM, resulted 
in the re-cKnriion of (Jovfi-nor ('lixt<»x hy a rtHlMor*! majority. 
Notwithjttundmg tin* v 1 succiiui of the V > in U'th 
brancboa of the 1^, .re, Pierre Van Cortiundt una i. 
Lieutcimnt-^tovemor. I^*ih (tiueral lliuuilton and Colonel 
Ihirr nctivfly parti. ^ 1 in the conteat ax »upp<jrten» of Jua- 
tioo VuteM, iui did moat of the prominent and leading men of the 
Foderul party. 

8. On the 0th of Jidy the \a , ire convened in bpccial tea- 
aion under the proclamation of the (Sovcmor ; and on the 1 9th, 
General Philip S<iii yliiii and IUfi.h Ki.n'o won* Hp|Miint<'<l non- | 
atom of the rniti**! States. The latter g- iun h.id 1 
representative fn>m MaMtachusetts in the Contincntul < 

where he hud <liHtingiiiAhe<l hiiiiNelf for hid :. h und pr 

talenta, and hud but recently become a citizen of New York. 
No other huaiueaH of genend im{Mrtance wan tranaactcd dunn^' | 
tbe MMion. 

9. During the necond SMiion of the finit rongmi, a hiih 



1790 m 

ctmvcned on the 8th of Janiiar}*, 171W>, the Secretar)* of 
the TreaHur}*, (teueral Hamilton*, pn»j»f»Hed the aaitumption of 
the foreign and domestic public debt, amounting to tifty-ftmr 
millions of dollurs, togithcr with the d»bt« of the respective 
States contnicte«I during the war, eMtimated at aUiut half that 
amount. So acrimonious were the deljatet and -nions on 

Opposition to the reflection of Goremor Clinton. <— Nomination of Chief* 
Ju!>tice Vate«. — IIi> iiupp«tn " FederaliiiU. — R- n of Clinton. 

— General turceM of thr Fi^l< — Appointment <>i I micd btaln aen- 

aton. — iiAmillun'i pl^n fur t!. .i — umptioa of tbe public debt. 



1» 



THE STATE GOVERNMENT. 147 

the latter part of this proposition, that serious apprehensions 
were entertained of the dissolution of the Union. Thro*igh the 
joint exertions of Hamilton and Jefferson, however, the meas- 
ure was finally adopted by the vote of the Southern delegates, 
in return for which the North consented to the permanent loca- 
tion of the national capital on the banks of the Potomac after 
the expiration of ten years, during which its seat should be at 
Philadelphia. The State election in April resulted in a Federal 
majority in both Houses. 

10. The Legislature assembled in the city of New York _ 

1791 
on the 3d of January, 1791. By the census of the pre- 
ceding year the population of the State amounted to 324,127, 
showing an increase chiefly in the northern and western coun- 
ties of upwards of 85,000 during the past five years. A new 
apportionment of representatives and senators became, therefore, 
necessary, and was recommended by the Governor in his annual 
message ; and a communication between the Hudson and Lake 
Champlain on the north and Wood Creek on the west, by clear- 
ing out the obstructions in the Mohawk, and cutting a canal, 
were suggested for the purpose of affording greater facilities to 
the settlers in that region. 

11. The term of ofiice of General Schuyler as United States 
Senator having expired, Aaron Burr was appointed as his suc- 
cessor. A new apportionment of senatorial districts was made, 
the State being divided into four great districts, — Eastern, West- 
ern, Southern, and Middle ; the Eastern and Western each elect- 
ing five, the Middle six, and the Southern eight senators. Three 
new counties — Herkimer, Otsego, and Tioga — were formed out 
of Montgomery, formerly a portion of Tryon County. The As- 
sembly under the new apportionment consisted of seventy-three 
and the Senate of twenty-four members. The State elections 
in April exhibited no material change in the state of par- 
ties. 

1 2. At the termination of the war the State found itself the 
owner of more than seven millions of acres of wild, unculti- 

Removal of the capital. — State election. — Meeting of the Legislature. 
— Population of the State. — Recommendations of the Governor. — Inter- 
nal improvement. — Election of Aaron Burr as United States Senator. — 
Reapportionment of the State. 



148 SIXTH PF.niOD. 

TatoU, and imimproved InndK, Bitiiated chiefly in the northern 
and w^Htcni |»ortioii8 of it*j territory. Trior to the preftoiit year 
few Bales of this vast ()08«eitiiion luid boon niatie ; and an act was 
acoordiii^lv ptuiscd authorizing the Coinmissionent of the I^nd 
Office, consisting? of the Ciovonior, Sccrvtan- of Stiite, Attt>niey- 
Cicneral, Treasurer, and Auditor, to dis|>ose of these lands in 
such manner ait they should judge mo«t conducive to the public 
intert^ta. 

13, I'nder this act, upwanls of five millions of acres were 
sold durin;: the vetir for aUiut one million t»f dollars, — more 
than one half of the whole to a single individiu&I. — Alexander 
McC'omh, — for ei»;ht|»encc per aire, on a lon;r cn*«lit without in- 
tervMt. Lanrc^ inreeU were also sttlil for a tritiing consideration 
to other punhasenL Such an intliiicrimiiiato ajul wholi>Half 
dispoMition of this rairt inheritnnco was, t«» say the least, injutli 
ciouM in the extreme, an<l wholly indcfensihlc on any Boun<l 
principles of |M>hticul eomomy, and could scarcely ^»ii *" ^n'* 
ject its a^^ents to severv condemnation. 

14. During the session ensuing, oommoncin^on the 5()i 
* of January, 17U2, an act was passed, in accordance witli 
the HN-onunendation of the Govenior, incorjK»ratin}^' the " West 
em Inland I>Kk Navi;mtion r4>mjiftny,** of which (leneral Philip 
Schuvler was IV •' "t, for the improvement of the navij^mtion 
of the Mohawk Jv.. r and the r-i.-fniction <»f a canul from 
thence to StMu»ca I<ake and Ijike <• The " Northrm In- 

land Lock Navi^iition C'om|iftny " v^.i.^ MKin aAerwanU orpinired 
under the same auspiccH, f..r the purjMMie of ojK'ninj: a communi- 
cation l»etw«H'n the Hudson Uiver ami I^ke Champlain, and the 
route cari'fidlv Burveve«l hv Mr. Weston, a civU enjnneer, and 
Thomas K<ldy ; thereby layinj,' a foundation for those mofjijifi- 
ccnt works of internal improvement, destineil hereafter to exert 
80 great an influence on the pros|writy of the State. 

15. The (Jovemor, in his sfwech at the oiM^ninj: of tin N«->ion, 
recommended the applicsition of the pnx!ee<ls from the sale of 
unappropriateii lan«ls to the payment of the State debt and 
the current cxpcuacs of the govenimeut This opened the 

The public land*. — Act proTidinir for thdr mUc. — DUpotition of ihom 
— Wcntcm and Northern Inland Lock Narigatkm OompiioiBS. — Proceed- 
ing* of the Lqpalaturv. « 



THE FRENCH MINISTER. 149 

whole question of the disposition of the pubhc lands, and gave 
rise to an animated debate in the House on a resolution censur- 
ing, in strong terms, the commissioners for the course pursued 
by them, resulting, however, in the rejection of the resolution, 
and the adoption of a substitute, approving their proceed- 
ings. 

1 6. The April elections, after a spirited canvass, resulted in 
the re-election, by a close vote, of Governor Clinton and Lieu- 
tenant-Governor Van Cortlandt, over Chief-Justice Jay and 
Stephen Van Rensselaer, the candidates of the Federalists. On 
the 6th of November the Legislature again assembled in New 
York, and proceeded to the choice of presidential electors. The 
presidential canvass resulted in the unanimous re-election of 
General Washington and Vice-President Adams. 

17. The aiTival of Citizen Genet, in the spring of 1793, 
as the envoy of the new French Republic, a few days after 

the declaration of war between that country and England, was 
the harbinger of new political complications. The obvious policy 
of the American Government was that of strict neutrality, while 
all the sympathies of the people were with their late chivalrous 
allies in the Revolutionary struggle. The Federalists ranged 
themselves, as a party, in support of the Government, and their 
opponents in favor of active interference in behalf of the French. 
Genet, secure of the popular support, proceeded to fit out priva- 
teers for the destruction of British commerce on the high seas, 
while Washington sternly declared his determination of enforc- 
ing the proclamation of neutrality. 

18. The reception of the French minister in the city of New 
York in the summer of this year was enthusiastic in the extreme, 
and his hostility to England was so warmly seconded through- 
out the country, that nearly fifty British vessels were captured 
during the year by privateers from the various ports manned by 
American seamen. Genet still further strengthened his interest 
and increased his popularity by a marriage with the daughter 
of Governor Clinton, the leader of the republican party. He 



Debate on the public lands. — Approval of the commissioners. — Re- 
election of Governor Clinton. — Meeting of the Legislature. — Choice of 
presidential electors. — Ee-election of President Washington and Vice- 
President Adams. — Diplomatic mission of Citizen Genet. 



150 ^/A'7y/ PERIOD. 

waa, however, soon nftennnrds recalled, on the demand of the 
rrtsidcnt, by the French Ck)veniment ; but, althoujfh deprived 
of aJl otluial authority, still remained in the countr}-, of which he 
became a j>ermaneut citizeiu 



CIIAPTEU III. 

FOCVDATIOII or TBI CoMMOJI-St'llOoL 8t»TEM. — Al>MI?{|*TRATlf>?» or 
GOTUIJIOK JaT. — I^TKMilAL iMrKUVCMK^T*. 

1. Tub Legialature mot at ri>u^hkcH]>»u- iiu the Gth of Jaiiu- 

an*. 1795. Governor CuNTos « .iiiiinuiiiate^l his annual 
meiwap?, in whirh, after n-newin;; hiM recommendation fur 
the r uf the cnminal aAv, he remindiHl the Logialaturc, 

that, mhiie lilienil jr nn had U-en nuide for the endowment 

of i» an<l «»thir Ih^^Iut seminanei* «»f leaniin^r, no levcislutivo 

aid tuid yet Uxmi affonle*! to the lommon .VIk-oIh. Deeply ini- 
pretwed with the |innun<iiint im|>ortancc of thin*' ji^'enries for the 
di!' of kn<»wlf«l^r'* am«»njj the |>eople, he euni(»stly reeom- 

meitiliil a HuitAble pn>vision for their encoum it ami sup|»or1. 

2. An act was accorl 'at an early |M.-riixi of the setwion, 
intnHluced and {MUMied taiu a law, appropriating; an annual sum 
of fifty ihoiutand dollarn for tivo years to this object, the inter- 
eat of which waa directed to lie {Mid over to the several county 
treaaurers in amounts pni|M»rtioned to the (lopulation of tho 
rea|iective counties and towns, the latter of which were also re- 
quired to raise by tax an amount e<pLal to one half of the apfior- 
tionmont matlo to them res|)ectivfly, — the whole to be applied, 
imder the direction of prDjjer officers in each s»*hfMil -district, to 
the |>ayment of the wages of teachers duly emplove<l and proper- 
ly qualitic^l. This was the orijrin f>f the present (.'ommon-Sch<x)l 
system of the State, now ao inifiortant and flourishing a branch 
of its p)veniment. 

3. On the 27th of January, lUrus Kixo was re-elected a Sen- 
ator in r ••>— f>Hs for the ensuing term of aix yemrt. Governor 



'1795. — Oorcmor'n mrmaiTP. — Clrijnn*' foandation of th« Com- 
mon-School sjslem. — Uc-dcction of HufUs King ai United Stales 



THE STATE GOVERNMENT. 151 

Clinton's official term having nearly expired, he declined being 
considered as a candidate for re-election. A continuous service 
of nearly thirty years in the colonial assemblies and executive 
department had undermined his health, and entitled him, in 
his judgment, to a retirement from the public service. Lieuten- 
ant-Governor Van Cortlandt also declined a re-election on ac- 
count of his advanced age. John Jay was again placed in 
nomination by the Federalists as Governor, with Stephen Van 
Rensselaer for Lieutenant-Governor, while the Republicans 
nominated Chief-Justice Yates and William Floyd as their can- 
didates. 

4. At the ensuing spring election, Messrs. Jay and Van Rens- 
selaer were duly elected, with a decided Federal majority in 
both Houses of the Legislature. Mr. Jay, at the time of his elec- 
tion, was absent from the country, having been despatched to 
England by the LTnited States Government to negotiate a treaty 
with Grea,t Britain. He arrived at New York on the 26th of 
May, where he was received with the greatest enthusiasm. The 
treaty with England concluded by him was exceedingly unpopu- 
lar with the Republican party throughout the country, which 
sympathized almost universally with the French revolutionists, 
and were equally hostile to British influence. 

5. Governor Jay, in his speech at the opening of the 
session of 1796, after expressing his acknowledgments for 

the confidence reposed in him by the electors, urged the adop- 
tion of efficient measures for the military defence of the State 
in the event of invasion. Provision was made by the Legisla- 
ture for the improvement of the criminal jurisprudence, and for 
a reap23ortionment of representatives and senators under the 
census of the preceding year. A bill was introduced early in 
the session, in accordance with the views of Governor Jay, pro- 
viding for the gradual abolition of slavery in the State, which, 
however, after a prolonged and exciting debate, was virtually de- 
feated by a close vote, in committee of the whole, by the adop- 
tion of a resolution providing for compensation to the holders 
of that species of property. 

Governor Clinton defines a re-election. — John Jay elected Governor, 
— Jay's treaty. — Meeting of the Legislature. — Bill for the abolition of 
slavery. 



152 SJXTJl PERIOD. 

C. Through the violent niul revolutionary exocMCi of tho 
French rej)ul)lic, untl tho nuih and imliHcrcct conduct of their 
agent, M. licnct, in this country, the popuUir excitement againtit 
the treaty concluded by tJuvernur Jay with Cirvat Untain had to 

• » * 

a ver)' great extent Mubiiidcxl. The uni venial contidenoe re|»oiietl in 
the luhniniHtration of (leneral Washington, wIuwh) Bcoond tenu 
ai>{>n>achitl itn cloac, and who declineil a re ckvtion, and the high 
cluiracter of Jay in oonntvtii»n with hitt unexcf|itit»nable diH- 
charge of the oliicial dutie« intnuited to hini, had Btrengthene*! 
the hold which the Feilerul \*irt\ luid already obtained U|)on the 
public confidence and i»up|K»rt, The Mpring elect itmn, therefore, 
exhtbitcii the lUiual prfpondrnince of that |«:irty in Iwth 
bnuichcH of tho Ix-ginhit ure. 

7. Thiii ImxIv aiutentbhil in the city of New York on tho Ist 
of Noveujljcr for the choice of presidential elector*, and ap- 
point4*d ekitonv, who caiit the twelve votes of the Stato in favor 
of John \u\u» of Massachiuntts for l^resident, and Thoiuas 
Tinckney of South Ctirolina for Vice- President. .I'>hn L\w- 
HKNin, t»r the city of New York, was chosen Init^xl n- 

ator in place of Kufus King, who had recently liecn ap{x>int4xl 
Minister to KngUuid. The Ix-gislaturc then adjourned U* meet 
at AlUinv on tho ^1 of January ensuing. The ct»ngix-ssionaI 
election in IH- r tvnninatcil in the election of thf Uepub- 

lican canditlat. , F^lwanl Livingston of New Y«irk. Philip 
Van Cortliuidt of West Chester, J. N. Havens of > , and 

Lucas KlnitiMlorff of I'lMter. 

H. (hi the reassembling of the I>?gihlaturo, an act was 

'■ ni.'vM'<l cnating the ofiice of Comptn»ller, which was bo- 
Rtowed u|»»»n Samikl Joms*, of New York. The county of 
Deliwarv was enrttfl frt»m jn.rtions of AlUmy and lister ; and 
the seat of govenunent wiis jiermauently l(»cJited at .\lliany, and 
provision made for the erection of acapitol and suitable gorem- 
ment oftices. Colonel Burr's term of office aa United States 
Senator having expireil, Piiiur Schuyler, of Alliany, waa cboscQ 
in his pi 

9. In the mean time, John Adams, of Mssssrhusetts, Iiad bc«o 



c ■ — M«Tf '• TitgUatnrr. — Pn ' ' * - — 

C' ' " "ntor^ — A^i • -iJp- 

tr 1. . . . . . -> ... 



ADAMS AND JEFFERSON. 153 

elected President, and Thomas Jefferson, of Virginia, Vice- 
President of the United States, and duly inaugurated at Phila- 
delphia on the 4th of March. The State elections in April indi- 
cated a decided gain in favor of the Republicans, especially in 
the city of New York, where their representatives in the Legis- 
lature, including Aaron Burr, Dr. Samuel L. Mitchell, and De 
Witt Clinton, were returned by a heavy majority. 

10. Governor Jay and Lieutenant-Governor Van Rens- 
selaer, were re-elected, the latter unanimously, and the 
former by a decided majority over Chancellor Livingston, the 
candidate of the Republicans. This party, how^ever, obtained 
a decided preponderance in the Legislatm-e. De Witt Clinton 
and Ambrose Spencer were elected to the Senate ; and among 
the leading Republican representatives in the Assembly were 
Aaron Burr and John Swartwout of New York, David Thomas 
of Washington, Erastus Root of Delaware, Obadiah German of 
Chenango, and Jedediah Peck of Otsego. 

11. At this period the line of demarcation between the 
Federalists and Republicans was strongly marked, and party dis- 
sensions ran high. The administration of the general govern- 
ment, under the elder Adams, supported by General Hamilton 
and Governor Jay, was characterized by a series of high-handed 
and despotic measures, altogether at variance wath the demo- 
cratic principles which were beginning to prevail. Governor 
Jay, ten years previously, in a communication to General Wash- 
ington, had expressed opinions decidedly averse to the sove- 
reignty of the States, and in favor of a concentration of power 
in the general government ; and the recognized leaders of the 
Federal party were despondent as to the issue of the experiment 
of republican institutions. 

12. In the mean time these men were the dispensers of Fed- 
eral and State patronage, increased by a system of internal tax- 
ation adopted by the United States Government ; a standing 
army had been organized, unlimited authority to borrow money 
conferred upon the President, and arbitrary authority to prose- 
cute and imprison all aliens or citizens venturing to arraign the 



Election of Adams and Jefferson as President and Vice-President. — State 
elections. — Spring elections. — Re-election of Governor Jay and Lieu- 
tenant-Governor Van Rensselaer. — State of parties. 



154 SIXTH PEIUOD. 

proceeding or policy of the nduiiiiistration cxcrciwil withotit 
rentraint All these cirL-miiKtuucetf coqiIuiuhI tu create au iu- 
toii.se feehug of ho»tilily to the jturty iu |>ower, both iu the State 
auil nutioii. 

13. A - 1 HisAiou of the I. .:i>l:iture WM conrened at 
Alliaiiy, by (juvenior Jay, iu Augubt, A war with Fnuice 
Iteiiig imiiiiiuMit, lui the ruttult of the Hjux-ial nuHHion to Fniiico 
of -MeH-sn*. rmcknev, Gem-, and Miindiull and the nefurioua 
jiractices «»f the Fniuh lU-public, the U r culletl the atten- 

tion of the Liegiiilatiire to the necetatity ul illicient )*ri-]>:initioiiH, 
on the {Mirt of the Stiite, for defence, to which tlmt boily re- 
h! ' I with cnerg)' and vi. 

ii. rbo tintt practical nugguauuu tur ilie luipnivement i>f 
the ftuMlitieti fur internal ciminiunimtion lietween the Atliuitic 
Ocean and the ' ' ni lukcH wom nuulo by lienerul Wasiiini, 
TON iu 1784. ii.ivin;;. during that vetir, jterHi.nally fX|»KinHl 
the region lictwecn the iludw.»n Kiver and Liki*M l-lrie tuid (hi 
tario, by the route of the Muhawk Hiver, \Vt»ml C'n»ek, ()n<i'l;i 
Lake, and the U«w(*go Uiver, aii<l nuide a tour through Iviki-s 
George and t'luunplam to Drown Point, he coniniunicnted to 
Mr. JeflerHoii, the Secretary of State, and otlien* of hiit < r 
respontU'iitM, liis views of the ini|M>rt{U)cc of o{>ening and iiu- 
pn>ving th(>Hi* cluunieU of commit 

15. At aUiut tlie same jieridd, «. iiuiMiiruui Lou.u% a i' 
dent of the city of New York, who m>mc twelve yearn prcvioiui 
had deUverwl a coumo of public lecturca in PhiV ' ' fiia on 
the fiubject of Ixick Navigation, Hubmitte<l a pr ' "ii to the 

State Legitilatiire for the improvement of the naw^uimn of tlic 
Mohawk. That Imdy, deeming the enterprim? tm* ex(M?niiivc for 
State adoption, otrere<l to Kecuro to him and hit) afiftKiuteti all 
pntfits which might accrue from ita priMiHrution by private 
meaiiA, and in IT^a luadc him a grant of one hundred and 
twenty-five dollant for it« encoiiro^'ment 

1(>. During that year, Mr. CoUea i(«ue<i propodaU for the cft- 
tabliiiliment of a company for the improTement of the inlan<l 

TxTri^lftiiro pmccedin?*. — Apprrhrn»ion9 of w«r wich Fmnrr — Oripn 
of the nynicm of intrmal impmvpmrnt*. — Ocncml Wa.«hin;:ton'(i rxplorn 
ti<>n» unci riewt. — I*nopo«iuon of Chmtopbcr Collet. — I^cgiAlatire en- 
couragement. 



THE STATE GOVERNMENT. 155 

navigation between Albany and Oswego, setting forth, with 
gi-eat abihty and comprehensiveness, the advantages which 
would accrue from such an enterprise, and the facilities for its 
accomplishment. In the succeeding year the Legislature, on 
the renewal of his application, evinced their approbation and a 
sense of its importance, but no effectual measures were taken 
for its prosecution, and it was abandoned by its enterprising pro- 
jector, who long afterwards died in obscurity in the city which 
his genius, if properly encouraged, would have enriched. Others 
were destined to reap the abundant harvest of the fertile seeds 
sown by him. 

17. At the opening of the session of the Legislature in 1791, 
Governor George Clinton adverted to the importance of pro- 
viding facilities oi communication between the seaboard and the 
frontiers of the State ; and an act was passed directing the ex- 
ploration and survey of the route between the Mohawk and 
Hudson Rivers and Wood Creek with the view to the construc- 
tion of a canal. At the succeeding session the report of the 
commissioners appointed for that purpose was favorable, and 
Governor Clinton renewed his recommendation for its earnest 
consideration. 

18. In the mean time, General Philip Schuyler and Elka- 
NAH Watson, in ignorance of the plans and views of Mr. CoUes, 
had exerted themselves with great energy and spirit in the prose- 
cution of the same idea. In 1791, Mr. Watson made a journey 
through the western portion of the State, discovered its facili- 
ties for internal navigation, and published a series of able es- 
says, which essentially contributed to the adoption of initiatory 
measures for carrying out this important project. 

19. During the session of the Legislature in 1792, as already 
stated, acts had been passed incorporating the Western and the 
Northern Inland Lock Navigation Companies, the harbingers of 
the Erie and Champlain Canals. General Schuyler was elected 
President of the joint company ; and among its most efficient 
members were Thomas Eddy, Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, Barent 

Unsuccessful efforts of Mr. Colles. — Governor Clinton's messages. — 
Survey of the route. — Favorable report. — Efforts of General Schuyler and 
Elkanah Watson. — Incorporation of the Western and Northern Inland 
Lock Navigation Company. — Its principal directors. , 



16G SIXTH PF.niOD. 

IJleccker, Elkanati Watson, and Kt»lHTt B«>wno. Itii olijwtJi werr 
the iiupruvetnent of the uuvipition of tiie Mohawk Kivrr, and 
the o{M.*uin^ of cannlM and lock navi^tion between that river to 
Seneca I^e and l^ke Ontann nnd Iwtwecn th'^ Hu.lsiin rm,! 
Lake Cham plain. 

20. In the year 17yG the Wf-teni Company had oompKtiii u 
canal at the IJttle KalU of altout three mile« iu length, with five 
lockii, and another of a mile and a quarter at (jerman FUt« ; and, 
in 171)7, one fnuu the Midrnwk to WchhI Creek, nearly two milou 
in len^h, • — making in all about ite%'en nult>H, with nine lockti. 
Itctween the lIudNon and luiko Champlain the Northeni Com- 
pany liad accompliidicd nothing of ini|H»rtanoe. The ex)x>nfieii 
ofconittriiction, reoonatniction, and re|iaini of the canal Itetween 
Schenectady and the Onoida btke, when finally completed, wero 
fountl to be Ao gn^ut that the tolU rtHjuirvd for ita navigation 
rcndereil it virtnallv UM'leaii. 

m 

21. In 179H an act waa |MifwcHi incoqiorating a company for 
the conritniction of a canal from I^ke Ontario to I^ke Krie, with 
nufhciont hx^kago, paaaing around the aiturm^t of Niapira. Cp 
to thin periotl no distinct conception of a canal, with lock navi- 
gation, fn)m the Hudson to I^ke Krie, bccuim to liave l>een en- 
tertained in anv quarter ; and no further cfT«»rtii were made for 
oarryint: into the fiartial ento^»^iv^« whiih were already 
comii. i. All that had lieen acr> hctl was the ri'inoval 
of olwtnictions from the channel of the .Mt»hawk and ita tribu- 
tary streams, and tho constniction, at an enomjous expense, of a 
amall caiuU conii< it with the adjacent waters. 

22. An act "for supplying the city of New York with 
pure and wholesome water" was {lasstxl during the MiBion 
of the I^egislat lire of 17U9, which was aAerwiirds foumi to confer 
\ery im|)ortnnt linking powers, under a clause authorizing the 
e^ 'iinent »)f the .Manhattan llank, and gave rise to very se- 

rious {jolitical compliratJonH, nvniilting in the defeat of nuuiy of 
the loading Kepublicnn candidates at the spring election, espe- 
cially in the city of New York, and the triumph of the Federal 
party thn^iighout the State. These successes were, however, 

< " •» of ibo Wc«tcm and N*- ' T • • * • *• '^Hon Company, 
— i. .. I :..'. r.M, — Grnn.i . i ...i' ...... ,'..-.• ■ k. — Propoacd ca- 

nal fr lo Lake Krie. — The Manhaiun Bank Charter. 



DEATH OF WASHINGTON, 157 

neutralized by the intolerant enforcement of the unpopular se- 
ditious laws of the general government by the executive officers 
of the State and nation. 

23. The death of General Washington, on the 14th of De- 
cember, cast a deep gloom over the whole country. The most 
imposing funeral honors were paid to his memory in all the 
principal towns and cities of the Union ; and in the city of New 
York especially, all parties vied in the expression of their sym- 
pathy for the general loss. 

24. The Legislature met at Albany on the 28th of Janu- 
ary, 1800. The Governor, after pronouncing a brief and 
feeling eulogy upon General Washington, submitted various 
recommendations for amendment of the existing laws, and con- 
cluded by earnestly urging upon the Legislature an adequate 
provision for the support of common schools. Gouverneur 
Morris was chosen United States Senator in place of James 
Watson, resigned. 

25. The April elections resulted in a complete triumph of the 
Republican (now known as the Democratic) party. De Witt 
Clinton, Brockholst Livingston, Mr. Swartwout, General Gates, 
John Broome, Henry Rutgers, and Samuel Osgood were elected 
to the Legislature from the city of New York, Aaron Burr from 
Orange, and Smith Thompson from Dutchess. Thomas Jeffer- 
son, of Virginia, was nominated by the National Republican 
Convention at Philadelphia, held in May, for President, and 
Aaron Burr for Vice-President. Messrs. Adams and Pinckney 
were renominated for these positions by the Federalists. 

26. On the first Tuesday in November the Legislature con- 
vened, and the Republican candidates for electors of President 
and Vice-President were elected by a large majority. John 
Armstrong was elected United States Senator in place of John 
Law^rence resigned, after w^hich the Legislature adjourned until 
the last Tuesday in January. George Clinton was placed in 
nomination by the Republican member for Governor, and 

Intolerant proceedings of the Federalists. — Death of Washington. — 
Legislature of 1 800. — Kesult of April elections. — The Democracy tri- 
umphant. — Nominations for President and Vice-President. — Choice of 
presidential electors. — Election of United States Senator. — Nomination 
of candidates for Governor and Lieutenant-Governor." 



i:)8 SIXTH PFIUOD. 

Jlukmiaii Van RcfsSKLACR fur LicuUnant-GoTemor ; aud Ste- 
phen Vuii Kouaselaer aud James WaUon were the oaudidutos of 
the Federalists. 



CHAPTKR !V. 

Obgaxixatiox or rna Common -School Stktcm. — Rbelectioiv or 
(JovcKMOR ( r. Currox. — Diel betwek;* Uamiltox asd 

IIl'em. — DkAiu «>r Hamilto*. 

1. DiiUNO the neiwiou of tho Ix^giMluturo of the cnHiiiii^ year, 
the fimt c»f the ceiilurv, a bill for tho orpuiizatiou of tho 

* (*' - of tho State waa intnKluco*! hy Judgo 

PlX'K, of <► id an act |KUWi>il dint-ting tho mining hy lot- 

tery*, under the control of niunngcrM npiMiintoil hy the State, of 
tho mnu of one hundntl thouHimd tloUuni, twelve thonaand five 
huudro<l of which were to )»e aitiMirtiomtl hy tlio regents of the 
Univemity among the colh^gon nn-i . ami the rcHiduc, 

including the avails of the fun<l |ir< ly u|*|in>|iriute<l in 17'J5, 

among the Common S ^ in such manner oa the Ix^ginhituro 

(diould j)ro»cril>c. An act wiiit tdM< d. recom mending a con- 

vention of delegates to \ic hold at A litany in the ennuing Oc- 
tober, for the amendment of the ex ronstitutiou of tho 
State in n>forenc«) to the upiMirtionment of members of the I>cgis- 
laturo ajid the a|>]M>inting )M»wer. 

2. On counting the votes for Proaident and Vice-President by 
Congrees in February, it was ascertained that Thomas Jcfffji- 
sox and Aaron Hiiui had each rcceive<l scventv-thrce votes for 
their res|)ectivc offices, and John Adams and Mr. Pinokney ea«.h 
sixty-five votoa. Un<ler the then existing |»n»vihionM of the Con- 
stitution, requiring the election of the highest candidates voted 
for as President, and the next -t as Vice President, no choice 
had l»een effected, an<l the election was thrt»wn into the House 
of Kepresentatives. The IwdKitings by States in this l>ody con- 
tinued, amid intense excitement, during four days and nights; 



OrgaaisaiioB of the CammtonSck^onA sysMn. — R«eoauMBdadoa of a 
convcnf :. >n f..r tb« iuii«tdin«ot of the Coostiia^n. — Coolest belw e ea JsAt^ 

son a:. . fur the Preadeocj. 



THE STATE GOVERNMENT. I59 

and it was not until the thirty-sixth ballot that Mr. Jefferson 
was finally declared elected President, and Mr. Burr Vice-Presi- 
dent. 

3. Whatever may have been his private intrigues, it does not 
appear that Colonel Burr had in any way openly participated in 
this contest. During its prevalence he remained at Albany, in 
the discharge of his legislative duties ; and although it is scarcely 
to be supposed that he was devoid of interest in the result, there 
is nothing to show that any efforts were made on his part to de- 
feat Mr. Jefferson, the candidate of his party. His previous 
high standing, however, as a Eepublican leader was seriously 
impaired. 

4. The spring elections resulted in the choice of Governor 
George Clinton, and Lieutenant-Governor Stephen Van Rens- 
selaer, with a Republican majority in both branches of the Legis- 
lature. Both the national and State governments were now in 
the hands of the Republican or Democratic party. At the spe- 
cial election, in August, for delegates to the State Constitutional 
Convention, a similar preponderance of Republicans appeared. 
John V. Henry was chosen from Albany, De Witt Clinton from 
Kings, Aaron Burr from Orange, William P. Van Ness and 
Daniel D. Tompkins from New York, and Smith Thompson from 
Dutchess. 

5. The convention assembled at Albany on the 13th of Octo- 
ber, and organized its deliberations by the election of Colonel 
Burr as President. After transacting the special business for 
which they were convened, an adjournment was effected at an 
early day. John Lansing, Jr., was appointed Chancellor in 
place of Mr. Livingston, who was soon afterwards made, by the 
President, Minister to France, where he succeeded in negotiating 
the celebrated treaty for the purchase of Louisiana. 

6. The Legislature met at Albany on the 26th of Janu- 
ary, 1802, and Ambrose Spencer was appointed, by the 
Council, Attorney-General in place of Josiah Ogden Hoffman, re- 
signed. An apportionment of the members of assembly, now 

Agency of Burr in the contest. — Re-election of Governor Clinton and 
Lieutenant-Governor Van Rensselaer. — State elections. — Proceedings of 
the Convention. — Appointment of Chancellor. — Meeting of the Legislature. 
— Ambrose Spencer appointed Attorney-General. 



160 SIXTH PEVJOD. 

fixe<l bv the aiiuixkHi Constitution at one liuntlre<l, wai made, 
and a rcHolution adopted on motion of Mr. Clinton, pro|)oiiing 
an anieiidnient to the I'nited States CouKtitiition, providinjj for 
the choice of electonj of I*n-8idcnt and Vice-lVe«ident by single 
clectonil dihtricts, and rv^juiring such electors to designate on 
their UiUotM the |ionK»n %*ote<i for bv them for each office. 

7. On the yth of Febnuir}', Dr. Witt Cuxtdn whs eU<te<l 
I'nitetl Statei* Senator in phux* of (Jeneral Anustrong, resignetl. 
The spring elections rv«ulte<l in aiu»ther l>eniocmtic triumph, 
including every memlvr of the Senate and a large maj«»rity in 
the House. Smui after this period an imbittcretl {lersonal and 
|)oIiticid uarfiin* p ln'tweeu the friends of Colonel Burr 
and those of l>c \\a\, mnton, carried on through the c<)lumus 
of the American Citii^'U, e<Iitod bv James Chtvthum, in the 
interest of the latter, and the Morning Chn»nicle, edited by 
Dr, Irving, in that of the fonner. and nwultiug in a duel be- 
tween .Mr. Chntoii and Mr. Swart wout. 

8. When the T ' ituro convene<l in January ui the succeed- 
ing year, it speetiiiy uccauie apfmrent thiit a large majority of ita 
memlwrs d '•oved of the comluct of Colonel Burr, and that 
he and his traiiiis no longer {loaiiefned the confidence of tho Re- 
ptiblican |)arty. The latter ol * la signal and decisive tri- 
umph at the April •' i'l. u itt Cli.nto.v was appointed 
Mayor of the city ot J'^cw Vork in place of Ivlwanl Livingston, 
who had been appointed, by the President, I'nitetl States District 
Attorney ; and Amiiroae Sprmer wa.«: - - inted a Judgo of the 
Supreme Court in pbice of Jac<ib Bad' iiu, renigned. 

9. Dn the 31st of Jantmn*, 18M4, the Legislature again 
aa8emble<l. The (fovenior communicated to Utth Ilousca 
the amendment of the Constitution recently adopted, requiring 
the presidential elect<»rs to A -'Tiate the candidates ^-oti-d for 
respectively as President and ^ ■». President (iovenior (Ibjrob 
Cu>'T'>N \\as placed in nomination by the democracy of the na- 

IVWir* ^ '—f^ Tnit^' ^'-rpsSeostor— PropcMrd ammdinent 

to tho nn n. — (■ nr betwrrn tho frirndii of Clinton 

and Burr. — Doel hetwpen Clinton and Swartwcmt. — Panic* in tho Ix^*- 
latnrr. — Triumph of the dcmormrv. — Appointmentu and rtmoriiU, — 
P— ofthcT '. — A mondmcnt of the United States OoMCi- 

tuuuii MI ~ nee iw i>f«MU<u<ual eledon. 



STATE ELECTIONS. 161 

tion as a candidate for Vice-President at the ensuing presiden- 
tial election in place of Colonel Burr, who had forfeited their 
confidence. The latter was, however, placed in nomination by 
his friends for the office of Governor. 

10. At the February term of the Supreme Court, Chief- Jus- 
tice Lewis presiding, Harry Croswell, editor of a leading Federal 
paper published at Hudson, was indicted and convicted, under 
the provisions of the English common law, for a libel against 
the President, notwithstanding the offer on his part to prove 
the truth of the allegations. His counsel, General Hamilton, 
made an eloquent defence in his behalf ; and in the succeeding 
year the law in this respect was changed, and the truth of any 
alleged libel was thenceforth permitted to be given in evidence. 
This was the last and most brilliant forensic effort of Hamilton. 

11. MoEGAN Lewis and John Broome were respectively elected 
Governor and Lieutenant-Governor by a large majority at the 
April elections, together with a majority of Democrats in both 
branches of the Legislature. Mr. Tompkins was elected to Con- 
gress from the city and county of New York. The defeat of 
Burr rendered him desperate, and in his mortification and cha- 
grin, in view of the disappointment of all his political pros- 
pects, he seems to have availed himself of every opportunity of 
revenging himself against those whose influence he had reason 
to suspect had contributed to the result. 

12. Of these individuals he had chosen to regard Hamilton 
as the most prominent. His opposition had been felt in the 
contest for the presidency against Jefferson ; and in his recent 
struggle for political ascendency, Burr had reason to suspect his 
active hostility. Burning for revenge, he had determined to call 
his great and powerful adversary to a stern and severe account ; 
and for this piu'pose had watched for an opportunity when he 
could safely accomplish his nefarious purpose. 

1 3. During the February term of the Supreme Court at Albany, 
some expressions of political hostility towards Burr had fallen 
from Hamilton, in a social conversation with one of his friends, 
with whom he was dining. The report of this coming to the ear 

Election of Governor and Lieutenant-Governor. — Trial of Croswell for 
libel. — Election of Governor Lewis and Lieutenant-Governor Broome. — 
Democratic triumph. — Hostility between Burr and Hamilton. 
11 



1C2 srXTFl PERIOD, 

of Burr in a distorted form, \\ii» coiiBtnieti by hira a« involving 
a personal charge, and a pn>ni]«t acknow lol^nnent or dcniid of 
the oflensive tcrnw di'iuandinl on the 18th of June. On tho 
2(>th Hiimilton dcclinctl complying with thin denmnd on account 
of the va^iicne&s and indefinitcnchji of the chitrge, at tlie luimo 
time exprestiin^ Itiji willingnoiiii to do ho whenever it should )>o 
made more explicit, or to abide tho consiMjucncoi* of Iuh present 
refujvil. In a 8ulme<iutnt note, through his friend, Mr. IVndlet*>n, 
in Ti'vW to an oflensive answer from Burr, Hamiltt>n n'jieatotl 
ID •; t terms his willin^niesa, in n>8{xinse to any M|iei-ific 

inquiry, to disi-laim having; at any time cast an imputation u]x)U 
the private character or jjcrsoiml ci>nduct of the fonner. 

14. Burr, notwithstanding this candid and explicit >. 
poniiated in n%;anling it as a mere evasion, and detmuidcd in. 
mediate satisfaction. A hostile meeting was arrangi'd on tho 
27th, which took place at Witfuiwken, on the Jersey sliore, on 
the morning of the 11th of July. Hamilton was mortdly 
woun<le<l on the first cxchan^re of shots, discharpn^ his pistol in 
tho air. He was conveve<l from the field to the house of a friend 
on the opjK»site shore, where he etpircd on the aftenuwn of tho 
next day. On the 14lh his r s were ct»nveyed to Trinity 

Church, when, after an eloquent discourse pnmounced by his 
fnend Ootivenieur M<irris, they were deposited, with military 
honors, in the • churehyonl, 

l**^. Tho death of H n. 1' ii, and tho unfortunate cirrum- 
stancee which led to th. i , 1 ii. I. ly catastrophe, cast a d« rp 
shade of ^rh»om over tho whole o»mmunitv. His military- ser- 
vie*»s, Hplendid talents, tlio hij.'h p« ^ occupied by him in 

tho civil de{tfirtment.H of govcniment, and his unexc< ible 

character in all the relations of life, had secured for him the 
wann a ns an<l n';,'nnl of his fellow-citizens jjcnerally ; and 

his premature death by violence, in the maturity of his |K)wcni 
and the fulness of his fame, was univen«ally lamented. 

16. By the election of CJovenior I^ewis a vacancv had occurrwl 
in tlie oftioe of Chief Justice of tho Supremo fourth which was 
soon afterwards fille<l by the appointment of Jamrh Kkxt and 
tho promotion of Daniei, I). Tompkins to the jxjsitiun of Asso- 

CorrMpondence, dnd, and drath of IlmmOloa. '— Fuocnd olj»ciiuic«. — 
Character of iloiuihun. 



THE STATE GOVERNMENT. 163 

ciate Justice. The Legislature assembled in November for the 
choice of presidential electors, and after the transaction of the 
special business for which they were convened, and the election 
of Dr. Samuel L. Mitchell as United States Senator in place 
of General Armstrong, appointed Minister to France, an adjourn- 
ment to the ensuing January took place. At the meeting of the 
several electoral colleges in December, Mr. Jefferson was re- 
elected President, and George Clinton, of New York, chosen 
Vice-President by a majority of one hundred and sixty electoral 
votes. 



CHAPTER V. 

Administration of Governor Lewis. — Common-School Fund. — 
Free-School Society of New York. — Election of Governor 
Tompkins. — Burr's Conspiracy. — Steam Navigation. — Erie 
Canal. 

1. The State Legislature reassembled on the 2 2d of 

1 sn'i 
January, and a special message was received from Gover- 
nor Lewis strongly urging the importance of encouraging popu- 
lar education by the elevation and improvement of the common 
schools of the State, and recommending the exclusive appropri- 
ation of the avails of the public lands, now consisting of a million 
and a half acres, to this end. 

2. In accordance with this recommendation an act was intro- 
duced and passed, appropriating the net proceeds of five hun- 
dred thousand acres of the public lands to the support of com- 
mon schools, the interest, when amounting to fifty thousand 
dollars, to be annually apportioned to these institutions for the 
payment of teachers' wages. The foundations of a permanent 
school fund were thus judiciously provided. The Free-School 
Society of the city of New York for the education of destitute 
children was also incorporated, with De Witt Clinton as its 

Choice of presidential electors. — Appointment of United States Senator. 

— Re-election of President Jefferson, and election of Vice-President Clinton. 

— Meeting of the Legislature. — Special message of the Governor relative to 
common-school education. — Coimnon-school fund. — Free-School Society 
of New York. 



1C4 SIXTH PERIOD. 

Prcsitlent, chiefly throiij;h his cxcrtionB and tho«e of the .Society 
of Frieiuln ; »ii<i the tirnt bchool waa opened on Tr^uu liow iu 
Deoemlx;r, 1" 

3. At this time William W. Van Nkss, (.f Cohunhia, in the 
Senate, uiul Ouaihaii (jkkman, of Cheuuu^'u, iu the Iloiuu.*, were 
the recit^niztil Iciulvni of the Fcderul niul Dciuucmtio parties 
reii|»cclively. The jirejKMidenuicc of pubhc seutiinent Uirough- 
out the State waa stnuik'ty in fa%'or of Uie Deinocnitii, aiid tiic 
reHuIt of the Spring cl- ^ of thia year only hcrved to ct>nfinn 

this reHult, Maiiifcttt indicutionii, however, had recently a|>- 
{iciuxhI, of irreconcihihlo diH^'ntiiona among the nuijority, which 
threatened for a {leriod to diaturh their hannony, if 

not to interrupt their pre<loniiiMii' < . Mr. Chnton and his 
frienda, in connection with the Uite \- 1 adherents of Colonel 

Burr, ranged themselves in op(M>Hition to the adniiniHtnitiun of 
Governor I^wis, and a deadly i 1 si'cuiecl inuuinent 

4. At the Bucceotiing scaaion of the Ijeirislature in IHC^C, 

1806 • . 

the sentence of death a^r^inst Stephen Arnold, a ti^Arhc r 

of Otsego County, for aiusing the death of u child hy whipj-.n^' 
for a venial offence, was, on the rcconunentlation of the Ciovrr 
nor, cowmuteil to iuipriHonnu-nt for life. — a proceeding which 
created great iiopuLir indigiuition thr nt the State* A 

recommendation was also suhmitt4.*<l for the unprovemeut of tho 
<Ii>< iphne of the militia; the (Jovenior, in his cn|«acity of com- 
mander-in-chief, having, during the preceding autumn, made an 
official tour of insfMHrtion and review. Preiiarations for an appre- 
hended war with (Jreat Ilritain were also strongly urged. Hunng 
this session, Am iiibald Mi IxTTREof M«»ntgomerj- was ap|»int« .1 
Comptn»ller. The Federalists, as a Uxly, tmnsferred their sup- 
port to Governor I^ewis in the approaching cont^-st Itctween his 
friends and those of Mr. Clinton ; and, aided by this aialition, a 
majority of the meml>eni of the Legialature in favor of the ad- 
ministration were retume«l at the ensuing spring elections. 

T). In .April of the ensuing year, the rcgidjir Kepuhlican 
ticket, headed hy Da.mel D. Tompkins as Governor and 

State of parties. — PoHtkal feud betwwa the friends of Mr. Clinloa snd 
(^Dvi-nior I>ewi«. — I'nKvedings of the Lefrislatarc — Strphni Arnold. — 

Ap|M>intmcnt of ComptrtjUcr. — Coaliuoa of FcdcrmU*u and Ucpublkan*. 
— Iicsult« of tho election. 



AARON BURR. 165 

John Broome as Lieutenant-Governor, was successful by a 
majority of about four thousand votes, carrying with it a 
majority of both branches of the Legislature. William W. 
Van Ness was promoted to the bench of the Supreme Court, 
by the Council chosen during Governor Lewis's administra- 
tion, in place of Brockholst. Livingston was appointed an As- 
sociate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. 

6. Colonel Burr was, in May, placed on his trial for treason, 
before Chief- Justice Marshall of the United States Supreme 
Court at Richmond, Virginia, charged with an attempt to pro- 
cure a severance of the States west of the Alleghany Mountains, 
and with them, in conjunction with Mexico, to establish an inde- 
pendent government. He had been driven from New York by 
the public indignation created by the death of Hamilton, and 
since that occurrence had traversed the Southern and Western 
States and territories, engaging in treasonable intrigues with the 
disaffected, and other susj)icious undertakings which had excited 
the vigilance of the government and produced his arrest as a 
criminal. No sufficient proof, however, of his complicity having 
been presented, he was acquitted and discharged. 

7. On the 7th of August the first Steamboat, the Clermont, 
was completed by Robert Fulton, of New York, and launched 
from Jersey City, on its trial trip up the Hudson for Albany, 
where it arrived on the next day, after a successful voyage of 
thirty-two hoars. Chancellor Robert R. Livingston had, in 
1798, obtained from the Legislature the exclusive right of steam 
navigation in the waters of the State for twenty years, on con- 
dition of building a boat, within one year, of an average speed of 
four miles per hour. Failing in the accomplishment of this ob- 
ject, and having made the acquaintance of Fulton in France, he 
obtained a renewal of the grant in 1803, when the former joined 
him in New York, and in four years thereafter their joint efforts 
were crowned with a brilliant success. 

8. In November of the preceding year the British Government, 
now engaged in a war with the French Empire under Napoleon 

Election of Daniel D. Tompkins as Governor, and Lieutenant-Governor 
Broome. — Trial and acquittal of Burr at Richmond for treason. — Launch 
and successful trip of the first steamboat on the Hudson by Fulton. — His- 
tory of the enterprise. 



ICG SIXTH PEIUOD, 

lU>nai)artc, hiul iHsn.-l ;i t^ricM of " Onlern m Council " pruhilut- 
iiig all traile with Fnuicc or hor allieh \>\ the vebM«U of neutral 
natiouR. In retaliation, the Knipon.>r proclaimed the celebrated 
Milan dccrt-o, forbidiling all trade with Kuglaud and her ouloniea, 
tht-rebv etlectually cutting otV all American conunercc, in neutnd 
shiiwi, with either of the belligerenta. On the 23d of Septem- 
Ur, 1?<07, (.\>ngre«« laid aDeuiUir^> on all vemteU in the harUire 
of the I'nited Statca, the rc«ultH of which were exceedingly dia- 
aittriiUH to the entire mercantile interest of the country. 

y. The Fe<leriliHt«, as a body, together with that Hection of 
the DemocruUi heretofore acting iu c* ■ * with Mr. Clinton, 
ranged themMelveii in determined op)M.>&;ti<-u to this measure of 
the government ; while Mr. (.'lintou hmuiL'lf, luid the great ma- 
jority of ti»o Ikuuocratic I»«irty, were its udvocat^.'s. The leaii- 
ers of the fonner cinitended tliat the Hritisli Onlem in Conned 
Were rvn»lere*l nocemuir)' by the supplies constantly funiiMhetl to 
the French by Americnn veascls, luul which were n«>t nemied by 
the Knglish ; while the hitter just itiod the Mihin lUid Ilerlin de- 
cri'cs as a neccssar)' measure of retaliation on the jMirt of the 
French, and the cmbaq;o an the sole mcaus of prucuriug a repeal 
of Uith onlinaiicca. 

lU. The practicability oi the construction of a canal from 
Lake Krie to tlio Hudson River had, to a greater or less extent, 
< upiod the attention of refl(H:tiiig and stientiHc minds since 
ti»e failure of the efl«»rts towards the cl«>so of the preceding cen- 
iwry to imprt>ve the navigation of the .Moliawk, and c<jnnect its 
waters, by means of small caiuds and lockage, with I^kc Ontaria 

(ioLVERNKlR .Moimi.H, Je««E HaWLEY, and JaMKS CiKUORH had 

recently dirccteti ptiblic attention to this subject through the 
jiress and other channels, and the time seemed auspicious for 
its more mature consideration. 

11. During the scansion of the LegisUiture of the suc- 

ccc<ling year, -Mr. J<>.hiila Formax, of Onondaga, profxisod 

in the Asst^mbly a concurrent re»«»lution, which was suhse<iuently 

atlupted by the Senate on motit»n of Mr. CJoii.D, directing the 

Sur\oyor-Genonil to cause a survey to be made " of the most 

British Onicn in Council. — Berlin and Milan decrees. — Stais of par 
tics. — l^ropoacd canal frum Lake Eric to the Iludaoo. — Suncy of lbs 



THE STATE GOVERNMENT. 1G7 

eligible and direct route of a canal to open a communication 
between the tide-waters of the Hudson River and Lake Erie." 
The sum of six hundred dollars was aj)propriated for this pur- 
pose, and James Geddes, of Onondaga, employed to make the 
survey. His report in favor of the practicability of the under- 
taking was submitted to the Surve^^or-General, and communi- 
cated by him to the Legislature at its ensuing session. 

12. The strength of the Federalists in the Legislature was 
somewhat increased by the result of the spring elections, al- 
though the Democrats still retained a decided preponderance in 
both branches. During the summer, Colonel Burr sailed for 
Europe, where he remained for several years engaged in fruitless 
efforts to secure the co-operation of the English and French Gov- 
ernments in an expedition against Mexico. 

13. On the 1st of November the Legislature reassembled for 
the choice of presidential electors. The electors appointed were 
uncommitted to any candidates, but, on their meeting, cast the 
vote of the State for James Madison as President and George 
Clinton as Vice-President, who were subsequently elected by a 
large majority. 

14. The Le2;islature reassembled on the 27th of Janu- 

. . . 1809 

ary, 1809. Resolutions were introduced in the Senate by 
Mr. Clinton, and adopted, after an exciting debate, by a large 
majority of both Houses, approving of the measures of the gen- 
eral government and pledging the State to their support. Gen- 
eral Obadiah German, of Chenango, was elected United States 
Senator as the successor of Dr. Samuel L. Mitchell, whose term 
had expired. The representative of the English Government at 
Washington, in pursuance of an understanding with the French 
Emperor, had consented in April to a repeal of the obnoxious 
Orders in Council, which was to be followed by a similar abro- 
gation of the Milan and Berlin decrees on the part of the French, 
and of the embargo and other restrictive regulations on the part 
of the American Government. 

15. In the mean time, however, the Federalists, strengthened 

Report of Mr. Geddes. — Results of the spring elections. — Departure of 
Colonel Burr for Europe. — Election of President Madison and Vice-Presi- 
dent Clinton. — Proceedings of the Legislature. — Negotiations for a repeal 
of the English and French decrees. 



108 SIXTH PERIOD. 

by the popular disicontcnt iiuluced by the pressure of the em- 
Ui!^ iijxin the incr':iuitile nud a^rricultunil interests of thi* 
country, ha«! apiin, after an inter>'al of ten years, obtiiine*! the 
ascendency at the spring elections. The 10th of June, the du\ 
on which the rejieal of the fmharp> was to tuke effect, was ceh 
bniteii by public rej » throu;;liout the State; but t! 

f(>.t i\ it:, s were S|)eiHlily danqted by the disavowal of the treaty 
by the Kii^dihh (K>vemn»ent, and its jwremptory refusal to re|K»al 
the Onlers in Council. Thest* proceeilinpi crente<l a feeling of 
intense indi^uition ni^inst the Hritish authorities which the 
1 's were powerless to lutsuap*. 

!♦*». (h» the 13th of March of the eiiMuinj? venr, the sub 
t of the coUHtniction of a canal frt»ai the Western 
likes lu the lIutlHMM Kiver was brought up in the SiMiate by the 
rc|M>rt of Jamb* (;ki»i»»^<, of Onoi ' the sun-eyor of the pn>- 

I-.mhI route. Thn»u;;h the in*' f Mr. CuXToN and Jonas 

Pi.ATT, of Oneida, the projix t vtun favt»nibly received, and a 
IJoanl of Commissioners, coUHiKtin;,' of (iorvwiNKtii M«»RUis, Stb- 

PUEX VaX KKNSSW.AKII, WlU.IAM NoHTII, Tll«»llA.H Kin»T, aiid 

PfrTKii U. PoHTKK, apftointeil to make an additional explomtion 
of the entire r«>ute, and re|>«»rt the results to the I^etpslaturc at 
its next session. 

1 7. At the April elections, tiovemor T«»vpkinh and Lieutenant 
f ■ vonior BiUMiMK were re « ' ! by a lan^'o majority, to-^Tther 
with a decitle<i DennK'ratic I . iture. This result was due in a 
great m»»asure to the effect ol" public sentiment produced by the 
refusal of Groat Britain to sanction the treaty for the ropeal of 
tlie Orders of Council, by the growing feeling of hostility to- 
wards that nation, the sulwtitution of the non-intercourse sys- 
tem by the gencnd govenunont for that of the embargo, and the 
incrcasing pf»pidarity Itoth of the general and State adminiHtra- 
tions. The country was rapidly drifting into another war with 
its ancient enemy, and the people of the State of New York es- 
pecially were with great unanimity preparing for the impending 
contest. 

Triumph of the Dcmocrnt* iit ihi' »T.rin » iTrsMion*. — HrAuuU of the Eng- 
lish Govcmmcnt. — Eric and Chn: — Hrj^irt c)f uunreyor. — 
Apjioinimmt of commisMoncrs. — Ko-^lmion of Oorrmor Tom|»kins and 
Ijcnlenant-Govcrnor Brw>mc. — rrvpanuioiu for war with England. 




Lewiston Landing in 1840. 



CHAPTER VI. 



Second War with Great Britain. 

1. The right of searching American vessels for British 
soldiers or sailors, claimed and exercised by England in 
addition to her other encroachments on our national rights, had 
at this period become so obnoxious as to demand from the 
United States Government the most decided measures for their 
repression. So strong was this feeling throughout the country, 
that a very large party in New York and other States, distrust- 
ing the energy of President Madison, presented the name of 
De Witt Clinton as a candidate for that office at the ensuing 
election. 

2. During the session of the Legislature of this year, a bill 
was passed for the appointment of five commissioners to report 

Condition of national affairs. — Nomination of Mr. Clinton for the pres- 
idency. 



170 SIXTH PEldOD, 

a Bvstcm fi)r the cstaMishinent aiid organization of Common 
Schools ; and uiulcr thin act, Jedediaii Peck, of Ot«ego ; John 
Mumiy, Jr., of New York ; Samuel Russell, Roger Skinner, and 
Samuel Macomb, — were up|Mjinted- 

3. GoL'VEUNEUii Moiiius, in Itehalf of the commissioneni a|> 
pointtnl fur the exploration aiul survey of the pruiMtscd canal 
fnjmthe Hudson to Ijikc Krie. suhniittcHl a n«|>ort, accom|ianie<l 
bv a finely executed map of the entire route : and an act waa 
pajoMid on tlie 8th of April, drawn up by Mr. Clinton, adding 
the names of Robert R, Livingston and R«hu:ht Fulton to the 
Ci>mmiaaion, and pvin^ full authority to the lioanl for the con- 
atniction of this jjreat worl% 

1. rii«' i-tinuaiNsioners wi-tr ;ilv> < lupowerDd to make : 
ti'U to CoM^.Ti'HS, to the Ifpslatun-s of the several States, tuui to 
indivi»luaU. for !>• ry aid in the prosecution of the enter 

jriMj ; but I ap|i«ilH, uhirh were ■tronj.dy urp-nJ by 

Mr. Clinton und Mr. .M m |»frson, no further pntgreiis was 

nuule tujtil after the < ' ' •! |M>n(lin;; wiir. 

6. The j^eneral n*aulls of the sprinj; el h were favorable 

to the IX'UV I'*^'^^ • '" conse«pience ul the death of Licu- 

tciuuit Governor llnwuio, a new " n was ordentl to fill the 
vacancv, which r- 1 in the choice of Nhiioijui Fish, of 

New York, the Folcrul c * te, over Mr. Clinton, the can- 
di«lite of the Deniocr.Us. ik>th branchea of the I^sUturo 
were, however, stron^rly l>em«»cr.i' 

6. Governor Tompkins, in ] o« h lo ihc I ' lure 

at the opcninj: of the semion ol lfti:i, t«Hik fKxiuiuu to pro- 
tcHt in stnmk' tenns against the increase of a pajier currency, 
throu^^'h the growing tendency to tlie mullij ' * n of lianks of 
issue, (hi the 14th of Febniar>* the comiuwii.oncrs Dpi>ointed 
for the or. i of a common -school system made an 

clalwrate aiul iiUlo rej>ort, accompanied by a bill for that pur- 
pose, which w:i- icntly {lamed into a law. 

?• Yj\t\\ in Hi' on a bill was introduced for the charter 



.\ 'ment of coaini«iooer« fur tlwflftabUsliiiientor eomiDOOKbooU. 

1,,., ,. - 'V'- .^.r,.ff^i.'«:-.n ..r fi>e cansl. — A»>t.l«<-«tion to CoB|!TB«i and 

Sute Icjn- , . n*. — I)cti triumphs. — I >c«ih of 

Lien tensnt- Governor BroooM, and electioo of NicboU* Fbh. — Or^ani**- 
tioo of tb0 common-Kbool ijttem. 



AARON BURR. 171 

of the Bank of America in the city of New York, with a 
capital of six millions of dollars, — four hundred thousand to 
be paid over for the benefit of the common-school fund ; one 
hundred thousand to the literature fund, for the support of 
colleges and academies ; another hundred thousand to the State 
treasury, at the expiration of twenty years, provided no other 
bank should during that period receive a charter ; one million 
of dollars to be loaned to the State for the construction of the 
canals ; and another million to farmers and others throughout 
the State, for the promotion of agriculture and manufactures. 

8. This bill passed the House by a strong majority ; but dur- 
ing its pendency in the Senate, and when its passage by that 
body was certain, the Governor, on the 27th of March, pro- 
rogued the Legislature until the 21st of May ensuing, on the 
allegation that sufficient proof existed of corrupt practices on 
the part of the friends of the measure for the procurement 
of the charter. 

9. On the 20th of April the venerable George Clinton, 
Vice-President of the United States, died at Washington, in the 
seventy-fourth year of his age, after a long career of official 
honors and patriotic services. On the 21st of May the Legis- 
lature reassembled, when the pending bill for the charter of 
the Bank of America was immediately taken up and passed by 
both Houses. On the 28th, De Witt Clinton was formally 
nominated by the Democratic members of the Legislature as a 
candidate for the presidency, in opposition to Mr. Madison. 

10. On the 8th of June, after an absence of four vears in 
Europe, Colonel Burr returned to the city of New York, broken 
in spirit, disappointed in all his expectations of foreign aid in 
his ambitious aspirations for empire and power, deserted by his 
former friends, destitute in his circumstances, and heavily en- 
cumbered by debts. The death of his only and accomplished 
daughter, Theodosia Burr Alston, who went down, with every 
other passenger on board, during the voyage in a schooner from 
her residence in Charleston to New York a few days after her 

Charter of the Bank of America. — Proros^ation of the Legislature. — 
Death of George Clinton. — Reassembling of the Legislature. — Passage of 
the charter of the Bank of America. — Return of Colonel Burr. — Death 
of Theodosia Burr Alston. 



172 SIXTH I'lIUOD, 

father'8 arrival, odiled a Ktill ileo|»fr hIuuIc of mcluiu'lioly to hi- 
declining years an<l MiUiU'd pn>.s|>octH. W^y reHunuHl the pn^ 
of his profciijiiun, and, Hti :i^ undiT the heavy Imnlou of tfi- 

calamiticH which w«i;^lutl down hin fnen^ios, K|x>nt the rt'iii 
iuj5 twenty years of his life in com|)ttrativo ol>«curity. He dietl 
in New York on the 14th of Decemlier, 1836, in the eighty-firet 
year of Iuh ap?, 

1 !. Colonel Burr WM ft man of marked ability and hrilliant 

m 

t l)i>Mtitiito of all hi;;h prin cither of ! ;i "ir 

laoroJity, hi8 luuMter jKiMMion wtut ]» ' ~ :i:il an<l |Militi> il luibition. 
To that inKatiuMc Mpirit he KiicritiriHl reputation, friendtdiip, hon- 
or, iMitriotiMn. und happiut^KH. The terrihlo retribution which 
M|iciilily overttM'k linu followtxl turn in hiii i^hMimy retirement, and 
K-ft luM) only at the fiortaU of the ^onive. Iliit carciT funiishM 
another sad eiample i*f the niiiieruhlo rettulta of unchasteDod 
auihition iie^l with the alMence of niond i: ?J. 

12. On ti> h of June, war wiui declared by CoogTMi 
il ' (jreat I Dem iUtv and wtiatora 
fn>m New York pMienilly votin;; o^^tnitt il, not liecauao Ruflloietit 
rea«on in their ju<; t did not cxiMt for the mcnxuro, but )k> 
catiMe the country \^ i-. i- H • . 1 • :. unpreymred for the com> 
mencenient of h«»-' The I ' s, om a U^ly, were op 
{xwcd to the war, not only for thin reiu«on, but l>i>caui«o they 
con' ' no aile<pinto prt»v<jration had In-cn jjiven by Kn;;lantl 
which did not « •'t Franco. The jfrcat tmuut of 
I>en»<Krat« in U>th br s of i -s (with the exception of 
the New York «: the dtvlamtion. Con^n'tnw* 
immediately ))iuim.h1 a bill for tiie rnliHtmcnt of twenty-five 
thounand repdar trt»op« and hfty thoumnd volunteoni, and or- 
ganised the Wcfit Point Militar}- Academy for the injitniction of 
codetn for the anny. 

13. At the .S'ptomljor tenn of the Ciriuiit Court, held in 
Chenango County, (lencral I>avid Thonmo, .State Treasurer, waa 
indicted and triwl licfore Judire William \V. Yan Ne«8 for at- 
t<inptinj; t*> brilw Coi^jHT M. Kouhc. a Senator from that county, 
during; the |>en<lency of the bill for the charter of the Ilank of 



Siit^tMxiurnt carrcr and tlcnth of Rurr. — D«rlAr«iion f ^ri^inut Grmt 

Britain. — State of panics. — OrganixaUon of the West Point Military 
Academy. 



SECOND WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN. 173 

America. No sufficient proof of the charge having been pro- 
duced, General Thomas was acquitted. Solomon Southwick, 
then editor of the Albany Register, was also tried and acquit- 
ted during the same month before Chief-Justice Kent at the 
Montgomery circuit, for an attempted bribery of Alexander 
Sheldon, Speaker of the Assembly. Thomas Addis Emmett, of 
New York, recently appointed Attorney-General in place of 
Matthias B. Hildreth, deceased, conducted these prosecutions on 
the part of the State. 

14. In the mean time, General Hull, who had been appointed 
to the command of the forces in the territory of Michigan, with 
orders to invade Canada, had in August yielded to a slightly su- 
perior force of British and Indians, commanded by General Sir 
Isaac Brock and the Indian chief Tecumseh, and surrendered at 
Detroit his array of eight hundred men, thirty-three pieces of 
artillery, and a vast quantity of naval and military stores to 
the enemy. For this act he w^as, two years later, tried by court- 
martial, convicted of cowardice, and sentenced to be shot, but 
in consideration of his Revolutionary services received a pardon 
from the President. 

15. The naval engagements of this year were notable. Cap- 
tain Isaac Hull, of the frigate Constitution, a vessel better known 
as Old Ironsides, had, on the 19th of August, captured, after a 
brilliant engagement, the British frigate Guerriere, commanded 
by Captain Dacres, off the mouth of the St. Lawrence ; Captain 
Decatur, of the United States, had, off the Azores, in October, 
compelled the British frigate Macedonian to strike her flag ; and 
Captain Jones, of the Wasp, after capturing the British brig 
Frolic, was himself, with his prize, forced to yield to the Poictiers, 
a seventy-four gun frigate. Soon afterwards Captain Bainbridge, 
who had succeeded to the command of the Constitution, took 
and burned the British frigate Java off the coast of Brazil. 

16. Captain Chauncey, of the New York Navy-yard, had 
been assigned to the command of Lakes Ontario and Erie ; and, 
with a small sloop-of-war of sixteen guns, and a fleet of mer- 
chant-vessels fitted out with guns and other naval equipments. 

Trial and acquittal of David Thomas and Solomon Southwick for bribery. 
— Surrender of Detroit by Hull. — Naval successes on the ocean. — Fleets 
on Lakes Erie and Ontai'io. 



174 -S/A'77/ PERIOD. 

aod brought from AHiany nt an immense exponso of labor, noon 
BucceeiitHi in clearinj? Ijiko Ontario of Hritiah ahipe aiul tlrivinL- 
them into K :i llarUiron the GmukU shorea. Lieutenant 

I iitt, liAvin^' e«|ui|>|>etJ u tiect on Ijike Erie» by a boKl iiiul tiur- 
ing movement, under the j:un8 of the llhtish fort on the opiKH 
aite aJiore, cuptured two lirilmh armed veaseU which had coni* 
tlown the lake fn»m Dvtruit. 

17. On the PJth of July an UDiuooeasful attack wag made 
\\\ion > t'rt Iliirlior, on the eaatem aljoro of Lake Ontiuno, 

by a squadmn of five HntiMh voweb fn»m the Caniuia Hhore. 
Tlie Harbor wai* dcfendeti by the I'nitcd Suites brig Oncidu. of 
Bixteon gums comimuided by I^ieutenant M. T. \VtH»l»4 y, huvinj 
in cliargu a Brit 'io*»ner nhich hud l»cen Beiwxi for a violation 

of the revenue laws, and by a mUitarv force of ul»out thn ■ 
tltouaand re^ndam and volunttvm. Lieuteiuuit \V fuihng 

in bin attmifit to engagi* the Itrittid) ciminunlore, tt»i»k c<»mniand 
of a I on the »h«»rc. whence, after two houre' firing, li- 

cripi»U'«i luid •! <xl tho hoalde Heel, without the loan of i 

man on tho An • ' -i An attack ujMin Ogilenaburg, *»» 

the 4th of OrtoU-r, by a Uritish fleet <»f twenty hvc Una*, with 
seven hundred and hfty men, waa aliio gallantly repulned by 
I .|. Hniwn after a severe and protnicte<i content, 

\6, VakxU in >> r* a hirge Unly of mihtia luui ' 

! in the \ \ of LewiHton, on the Niagara Uivcr, 

uuilcr li«o * :id t»t Miijor-tleneml Stephen Van Ilensaelaer. 

An attack \\\h,\\ the vdUige and heighta of (^ui-enntown. on tho 
mi'nti'm Imnk »»f tho N «. a few nulea lielow the Fidln, wan H«Min 

afterwanU phmnetl, uiui ihe re- • arrni ntn made for 

• •rtation of the troofw, on iito monuug ot tlio lltJi of 
LA.loi»cr, to the op(>oaite shore, Thn»ugh H4.n>e deficiency or 
trcaclicrj* on the port of I. ' lant Sims, the othcer employed 
for this senice, the IxmIs fa.icu to reach their dcatioation, and 
tlie exjiedition waa p<>f<t|K»n< •! 

19. On tho inoniing of the 13th, hi-wiver, ten Ixwta, under 
the direction of Lieutenant-C- ' ■ ''^ Chrkstie and Sdomon Van 
UeusMchier, with alwut two hunui «-«i ami twenty-five men, cn»«setl 
over to Queenstow ' ' • - ' ■ ' ' •' r .#..|y 

Aturk on Sackeit't lUrlwr and OgUciubun;.— < -nuioa of t 

at LewutoD. 



BATTLE OF QUEENSTOWN. I75 

returned for additional reinforcements. In the absence of 
Colonels Chrystie and Van Rensselaer, who remained on the op- 
posite shore to superintend the embarkation of the residue of 
the troops, the command of the small force at Queenstown de- 
volved on Captain John E. Wool, the senior officer present. 

20. The landing of this force was resisted with great spirit 
and energy by Captain Dennis, the British commandant of the 
post, who had become aware of the movement ; and Lieuten- 
ant Rathbone was mortally wounded, and gther severe injuries 
sustained by the detachment, before their purpose could be ac- 
complished, and a line formed on the plateau near the foot of 
the heights above the village, by the companies of Captains 
Wool, Malcolm, and Armstrong. 

21. Orders from head-quarters were immediately transmitted 
to Captain Wool to storm the heights, but before the ascent was 
commenced these orders were countermanded, and a vigorous 
attack was made on the right flank and front of Wool's line by 
Captain Dennis, who had been strongly reinforced by two ad- 
ditional companies of regular troops, stationed on the heights. 
After a short but severe engagement, in which two officers were 
killed, and Captains Wool, Malcolm, and Armstrong wounded, 
the enemy's force on the plains was repulsed. Lieutenant-Colonel 
Solomon Van Rensselaer was so severely wounded as to be unable 
longer to remain in command of the expedition. 

22. The attack from the heights on the left flank of the de- 
tachment was still continued, until orders were received for its 
retreat to the beach, out of range of the enemy's fire. Still 
suffering from annoyance in this quarter. Captain Wool obtained 
permission to attempt the capture of the heights ; and, rein- 
forced by a fresh company under command of Captain Ogilvie, 
though suffering from his wounds, at once commenced the ascent, 
and by an unfrequented path accomplished his daring object 
without the loss of a single man. 

23. With the rising of the sun the American flag was planted 
on the British works. General Sir Isaac Brock, who had now 
arrived on the ground, rallied the retreating forces of the Eng- 
lish, and, having repulsed a portion of Captain Wool's command 

Attack upon Queenstown. — Battle of Queenstown Heights. 



17G SIXni PERIOD. 

Bont to occupy the hci;:ht8 alwve the Ijattcrr, conccntmtcd his 
forces against the reiuuiiuler, wlio wero drivcu hack, in conBiiicr- 
ul)lc confusion, u\nm the prtHrijiitous luiuk uf the river. 

24. In this critical |K>t{ition, Captain Oplvio was Been to 
mise a white hnndki-rchief on a bavonet, as a token of sub- 
million. Captain \V«hi1 with his own hnniU imlipmntly ton- 
down the craven emhh'm, nnininiated his tnxi|M hy a Kpirited 
aj»|H'al to their hruvery and c«»unMt;e, and renewed the doubtful 
und deM]*erute contt»«t with the BU|»erior force arrayed npiinst 
hiiu, led by the iible»t p.Mieral in the HritiHh service. HavuiL' 
exhausted their lunniunition, a luyonet charp} was made, and 
the eneniv forced to retreat, 

m 

25. While enpi^anl in an effort to rally hts flyin;; troops, Gcn- 
! nnx:k n^ceived a mortal wound, and Captain \\\kA and his 

^uliunt b a lin took {lONsesHiou of the hei;;hts of (^ueenstown. 

Itenond U.ulAMorth ajid Lieutenant -Colonel Wixnm.D Scx)TT 
- i» afterwards joined the detzichnient, now consist in;^ of altout 
Aix hundretl repdars and militia, the command havin|^ liccn 
ossified to the latter. A l-risk <»M>liniLrht was iinmi*diately 
made U|>on the force by a Uind of Mohawk Indians, nnncil with 
t(»inahawks aixl knives, lc<i by John Urant and Captain Jacolis, 
who, after a severe contest, were repulscil and driven fn»m the 
heiifhts, under the lead of C ' ' - ' 

>«*. Meantime a stn^njf rtii. i m^m Fori C.eorge, 

under the command of (»en»nd ^lu.a:*., --^ i approaching 

the hei^dits ; and (*eneral Viui It- ' . uiiu wna on the field, 

imme«! " ' retunietl to Lewistou, to cA|»e<lite the passage of 
the ri-«iuuimip militia reserves. In spit* '" 11 his efforts, not 
one of their numl>er could be inducdl to rhe river in sup- 

{Mtrt of their exhauHte<l comrades. The fiuiuit- of sevend lM>ata 
which had previoiwly lieon sent over, and the cajiturc or hiSS of 
their {lassengers, had effectually discouraged any suliscquent at- 
tempt. 

27. Intelligence of this disaster was conveyed to Lieutenant- 
Colonel Scott, who, nevertheless detennined, single-handed and 
worn down by the fatigues of the day, to encounter the over- 
powering force brought to bear against him. At four in the 
aAem<K»n the action again commence<l ; and so severe and well 
sup{K>rted was the onslaught, and so su))crior were the numbers 



SECOND WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN. 177 

of the enemy, that the Americans were forced to retreat and 
finally to surrender. About a thousand prisoners were taken, 
less than one third of whom had participated in the action, the 
residue having either deserted or concealed themselves among 
the surrounding rocks and bushes. The British force num- 
bered thirteen hundred and fifty. The Americans lost ninety 
men killed, and one hundred wounded ; the British about one 
hundred and fifty of both, exclusive of Indians. 

28. Thus terminated the well-fought field of Queenstown 
Heights, — deeds of heroism and valor having been displayed 
by ofiicers and men never before exposed to fire, which would 
compare favorably with those of veterans inured to the service. 
The field in which Lieutenant-General Winfield Scott and 
Major-General John E. Wool first *' won their spin's" was 
nobly illustrated by the chivalrous minute-guns, which, by direc- 
tion of General Van Rensselaer, were fired from the American 
batteries at the conclusion of the funeral ceremonies of the 
British commander, General Sir Isaac Brock ! 

29. On the 23d of October, a detachment of militia, chiefly 
from the city of Troy, commanded by Major Guilford D. Young 
of that place, occupying French Mills on the St. Regis River, 
attacked and captured a company of Canadian " Voyageurs," 
which, in contravention of a stipulation for neutrality, had oc- 
cupied the Indian village of St. Regis, situated on the north- 
eastern borders of St. Lawrence County, and were endeavoring 
to induce the inhabitants to join the British standard. On this 
occasion the first British flag taken in the war was captured 
by Lieutenant William L. Marct, afterwards honorably dis- 
tinguished in the highest executive and legislative departments 
of the State and Union. 

30. On the 2d of November the Legislature convened for the 
choice of presidential electors. Martin Van Buren, of Colum- 
bia, made his first appearance in a legislative capacity, at this 
session, as a Senator from the Middle District, and at once as- 
sumed the leadership of the Democratic party. Electors in 
favor of Mr. Clinton were duly chosen on joint ballot, a portion 

Capture of British troops at St. Regis. — First appearance in public life 
of Martin Van Buren. — Presidential electors in favor of Mr. Clinton 

chosen. 

12 



178 S!XTII PERIOD. 

of the Fcderaliata voting with the ninjority of Democmta. Mr 
Mauij*«)N wa«, however, re-electe<l, hv a umjority of thirty-nin. 
electoral votcH, over Mr. Clinton, and Kuikhkir OeRHV, of Mn>. 
■achusettA, Vice-Premdent, by a majoritv cf fcirty five votes, . . 
Jared IngcrsoU, of Pennsylvania. 



CHAPTER VII. 
CoMMOx ScnooLH. — CAMrAicsc or 1813.— lUrrui or Lake Ekie. 

1 TiiB State Tr-ns1itiirr reaMenihle«l on the 12th of Jiinu- 
rv. 1813. . IV ., of New York, wiu« electe*! rnit«*<! 

...leii Senator in place of (KMienil John Smith, wi. 
tenn luwl i-xpircd. (iii)r«»N Hawi.ky, of AUwny, wan apfiointed 
hy the Council Su|>erintendent of Common SchooU, uridrr th« 
liroviiiiMnM if an art (MUiited the preciMlin^; year for their Iwtter 
r.mnization. 1>k Witt Cuntojc was reni»Tw»infed Mayor of 
. > York. On the 28lh of January. < iht R. 

LiviNOMTos die<l, in the sixty-nixth year of i H!« < 

nent talents, long aenrico in puhlic life, and timely U 
to his friend U«»nEUT Fii.ton in his great cntcq»ri»e, ei. I 

his memory to his fellow-citizens of all parties. 

2. Tlie spring elections resulted in the n>-clection of Governor 
TosirKi.NM and the election of John T-itlbr as Lirntrnnnt-Oov- 
ernor, with a str.n^ Democratic majority in the > and a 

sm:dl Fetleral \....j .ty in the other branch of the 1.^. i' '• 
.Stephen Van Henssolacr of .Mliany and fJe^^rgp Hunlinirtrm of 
Oneitla were the Fe*leral candiduten f«ir (Jovenu>r and 1. »- 

ant-dovemor. In view of the hitter opposition of the New 
Kn;:land States to the |»cnding war with Kn^rland and the ad- 
min istmt ion of the penernl government, the triumph of the 
Democratic party in New York, id the re-election of (Jovcmor 

Ro-clcction of Mndiwn, «nd F.lhridcr Cttrrj, of ManMrhatctts. Vic*-Pre»- 
j.lrnl. — Election of Cnilcd SutP* " r. — Suprnnimdrnt of < n 

S " "^ ' T • ■• T,irin(r«ton. — Rc-ciccuon 

iii.-rauc thuupb. 



NAVAL CONFLICTS. 179 

Tompkins, \Yas hailed with the highest gratification by its mem- 
bers throughout the Union. 

3. Meantime General John Armstrong, of New York, had been 
appointed Secretary of War by the President. The surrender 
of Detroit, the heroic episode of Queenstown Heights, and the 
brilliant victories of our infant navy, had infused a new spirit into 
the West, and volunteers from every quarter flocked to the patri- 
otic standard. The army of the West, stationed at the head of 
Lake Erie, was placed under the command of General William 
Henry Harrison, of Ohio ; that of the centre, between Lakes 
Erie and Ontario, under General Henry Dearborn, of Massa- 
chusetts ; and that of the North, in the vicinity of Lake Cham- 
plain, under General Wade Hampton, of Virginia. Frenchtown, 
on the Raisin, had been occupied by Winchester, under the direc- 
tions of General Harrison, and retaken by Proctor, the British 
commander, under circumstances of barbarous cruelty to his 
prisoners, who were left to the tender mercies of his Indian al- 
lies, notwithstanding the most solemn assurances of safety and 
security, and Forts Meigs and Stephenson gallantly defended 
by General Clay and Major Croghan, a youth of twenty-one, 
against Proctor and the Indian chief Tecumseh. 

4. On the ocean. Captain James Lawrence, in command of 
the Hornet, had, in February, captured the British frigate Pea- 
cock off the South American coast, and in the ensuing June, 
having been transferred to the command of the frigate Chesa- 
peake in Boston harbor, had, with his accustomed impetuosity, 
engaged the British frigate Shannon, Captain Broke. At the 
commencement of the action he was mortally wounded, his ship 
boarded, and after a severe hand-to-hand conflict her flag was 
struck, notwithstanding the dying command of her brave com- 
mander, " Don't give up the ship ! " 

5. On the 7th of February, Major Benjamin Forsyth, of the 
United States Rifles, stationed at Ogdensburg with a party of 
two hundred men, organized a successful expedition for the 
rescue of several prisoners arrested in St. Lawrence County by 
the British authorities as deserters, and confined in the jail at 
Elizabethtown, in Upper Canada. For this exploit he received 

Progress of the war. — Campaign of 1813. — Naval victories and defeats. — 
Death'of Captain Lawrence. — Expedition to Elizabethtown, Upper Canada. 



ISO SrXT/J PERIOD, 

a brevet commiw^inn from the American GoTeminrat as Licut^n- 
ant-CulouL'L 

6. A reUiliaton- expedition was, on the 22d, orj^mircil npiinst 
Oj»den»l)urg uiulor tlie direction of Lieutcnuut-* i McDun 
nell, with ci-'ljt huudreil men. Coluucl Funiyth'i* giirribon at 
the time c <^'d only of a uinglc comi^mv of riHemen, a few 
volunti-ers from AUmny. mid the inl. it» of the vUloj^e. 
With two iron tuclve-|)o; ^ und h\\ iriui nnd ImuMt iiix-{iouiul 
CFK, tn>|)hie« of the lUvolutiuuary held of ^ ^^^ mounted on 
rude wo*tden hreiiMt work •<, nnd munne<l chietiy l»y the citi/eiiH, hr 
made a ^lUnt >. t*»t »»nd wmmding furty-eijjht, in 
chuliiJi; Lieutenjuii ' 11 and six ofhcem. 

7. After a severe contit»t, however, he wa* foreeil t*» mirrendi r 
the town, the yihhc |jr\»perty an»l unhtnry utoreH in wliich wer. 
renn»ve»l to * . i. Two anm*<l ^ 'i* and two pml- 
wiTi" luinK-d; fourteen Jiimdn.ii ^ of aniut and accoutn 
mentH, tweh« : artdlery, tt»^elher wjth a vabt {|iuuitity of 
anununition, tentu, nn«l rnmf» iHiuifnun?, fell mto the pOMeaaion of 
the enemy, and a mt of (Limage was inilictcii 
U|)on the private pn»|»erty of the iuhalutanta. 

8. On the 'J.'nh of Aprd. iJenenU DearUjm emUirke*! a force 
of seventeen hundreii men on Uxird l'onuuodt»re Cluiunccy'« 
lUet at Sackett's HurU*r for the capture of York, the capital of 
rp|>cr Canjidu, the chief military de|iot of the Ilritwih anny. 
On their 1 .: <»n the UTth they were met hy a k '"^'' 
from the 1 . and Indiiuim whom they sfwcdily drove back to 
their ft»rt»lic»itu»n8 ; and (lenend ZiUiULox .MoNT«i<»Mi:KY l'lK^:, 
preju%inj; forward to the attack, was mortally wounded by the 
lilowing up of the magazine of the fort. The aafoiilantA were, 
however, succciuiful, and the American flag soon floated in tri- 
umph over the fort. 

y. On the 27th of May the »<|uadrvin, after having retume<l 
for Hupplie.s and relief to the wounded, again weigheil anchor for 
the ('an:uliun shore, and in conjunction with Captain Oliver 11. 
I'errv i>f the navv, ('ol«»nel Winfield Scott and Major Fonsvth 
of the Uiflea, Colonel Porter and Colonel Ali r Macomb of 

the artillen.-, and CenenUs lk»yd. Winder, and Ch :. ll- r, pro- 

Oaplare of OgdeDsborg. ^ Capture of York. — Death of Zebokm Moat- 
Pikc. 



SECOND WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN. 181 

ceeded to an attack upon Fort George, on the western shore of 
the Niagara River. The troops, under the personal direction of 
Captain Perry, effected a landing, and in the face of a formidable 
force of eight hundred men well posted on the summit of a pre- 
cipitous bank, Colonel Scott, after a desperate conflict, and after 
having three times been compelled to fall back, succeeded in 
carrying the position with a loss to the enemy of their brave 
commander, Myers, eleven officers, and nearly four hundred 
men. 

10. Colonel Scott pursued the enemy as far as the village of 
Niagara, and, having sent a detachment to cut off' their retreat 
to Burlington Heights, returned to Fort George, where a small 
party of the British, under the command of Brigadier-General 
Vincent, still remained. This officer, after directing the evacu- 
ation of Fort Erie, and the abandonment of Chippewa, ordered 
the magazine of the fort to be fired and the party left in charge 
to rejoin the main body at the Beaver Dams. The explosion of 
the magazine threw Colonel Scott from his horse ; but, in the 
absence of any serious injury, he immediately took possession 
of the fort, and, after hoisting with his own hand the American 
flag, pressed forward in pursuit of the retreating garrison, until, 
recalled by his commanding officer. General Boyd, he reluctantly 
returned to the main body. The entire loss of the Americans 
in this enterprise was seventeen killed and forty-five wounded. 
Three hundred and sixty-six British regulars and five hundred 
miUtia were captured. 

11. On the 29tli of May an unsuccessful attempt was made 
by General Sir George Prevost and Commodore Sir James L. 
Yeo for the capture of Sackett's Harbor, the principal forces for 
the defence of which had been withdrawn for the expeditions 
against the enemy's posts on the Niagara frontier. Lieutenant- 
Colonel Backus, of the Light Dragoons, having been left in 
command of the garrison with about eight hundred men, in con- 
junction with Brigadier- General Jacob Brow^n, who resided in 
the vicinity, so effectually resisted the attack of the British 
troops, numbering in the aggregate about a thousand men, w^ith 
a strong party of Indians, that a retreat was ordered after an 

Capture of Fort George. — Attempted capture of Sackett's Harbor. — Suc- 
cessful resistance of the garrison. 



1«2 SrXT/I PERIOD. 

hour's severe conflict, with the 1«»k8 of forty-eij^ht men killed and 
aIkxiI two hundred wounditl. The Auicricaiui hiid tifty men 
killed and eij^hty-four wounded. 

12. The capture of i\\\A im|K>rtant ytcvtX would have inflictcHl a 
heavy disaitter u|)on the American cause. Ijin^e <iiuintitie8 of 
navtd and military Htorett had bccu cuUectetl and de|KMit(.*d there ; 
several veiMeU were in pruceiw of construction, tind a jirize vc** 
bel, previously captured fn»m the enemy, luul two Tnitixl States 
Hi-ho<»nerH, lyiii^ in the liarUir ; and the arsiuml, various Uitterico, 
cantonmenta, and otiier puhlic huildinpi nxpiired for the Si>rvico 
of the tn>o|>M, were of the numt valuaiile imture. The bravery 
and intrepidity of its defentient a;riunst a ^^'atly superior force 
de«ter%'e<l and re.-eived the higliest appreciation of the national 
aiithoriticH. 

13. The failure i»f the e\ ana af^inst Stoney Creek, and 
the lleaver Ihuii Meadowii, or)^niz4'<l by Miyor-Cienend l>ear- 
boni, and the prevtUentx* of a pMiend public feeling of his inef- 
tirifncv ajitl inci>miietencv, aliuiit this time le<l to the removal of 
that uflicer from the conimaiid of the central division, and the 
sulmtitution of Major (Jcnend Wilkins<»n, Secn-tary of War of 
the I'uited States. 

14. An attack u|x»n the villn^ of Black Hook, f»n the ea>t« m 
Iwnk of the Nia^ra Uiver, on the 11th of July, by Lieutenant- 
( lonel 1' ;>, of the Hritinh anuy, waa galhuitly repulse<l by 
the American tieneral I'lTiii R Pokter, — Colonel Hi^hopp 
bavin;* l)een mortally wounde<l, and a lar>7C numl>er of his men 
kilh-*!, wounde<l. or capturetl, while the Americans, though great- 
ly outnumlteriMl. su8tAine<l a \qt\ tnHing 1o«mi. 

15. On the 14th of Au^ist the brig-of war ArgUB, commanded 
by Lieutenant William H. Allen, of IUkkIc Island, having on 
l)oard the American minister to Fnmce, the Hon. Williain H. 
Crawfonl, waa captured on hi-r return %'oyage, oAer having 
de«troye<l twenty Kn;;liHh vcascls, by the Hritisli brig Pelican. 
Lieutenant Allen was mortally wounde<l. On the 5th of Sep- 
temU'r the Hritish brig IVixer, Captain lUyth, waa captured off 
the coast of Maine by tiie Knterprise, Lieutenant William Hur- 
rt^wH, who wa.H killed in the action. 

Importance of !*»•• •-»*?. — Rrtnoral of CV"'"-"' Tv-ri-.m — Aifnck apoo 
Black Rock. — C, of ihc Argus by ti. . ., r. 



PERRTS VICTORY ON LAKE ERIE. 183 

16. Th3 most brilliant and important naval victory of the 
campaign and of the war, however, was that of Commodore 
Oliver Hazard Perry on Lake Erie, on the morning of the 10th 
of September, over the British squadron commanded by Com- 
modore Barclay, consisting of six vessels mounting sixty-three 
guns. The American fleet consisted of the flag-ship Lawrence, 
the Niagara, — of twenty guns each, — and eight smaller vessels 
with thirteen guns in all. 

17. At sunrise, the enemy's fleet haA^ing been discovered in 
motion, the line of battle was formed under the direction of 
Commodore Peny, and in perfect order slowly approached the 
opposing squadron. At noon the signal for action — the blue 
flag of the Lawrence with the inspiriting motto " Don't give up 
THE Ship ! " — was displaj^ed, and the action commenced. 

18. The Lawrence closed with the enemv at canister-shot 
distance, and for half an hour, assisted b}^ the Ariel and Scor- 
pion, sustained a heavy and destructive fire from their long 
guns. Commodore Perry, advancing his ship to close quarters 
with the Detroit, the British flag-ship, and leaving behind him 
his whole force, with the exception of the Ariel and Scorpion, 
for two hours maintained the unequal contest, until nearly every 
gun of the Lawrence was disabled, her sails torn to pieces, her 
bulwarks beaten in, and of one hundred efficient men upwards 
of eighty killed or wounded. 

19. At this crisis. Commander Elliott, of the Niagara, per- 
ceiving the crippled and unmanageable condition of the Law- 
rence, and the imminent danger of her capture and the defeat 
of the fleet, ventured, without orders, to leave the line and go 
to her relief. While passing her to the windward in the midst 
of a heavy and raking fire from four of the enemy's vessels. 
Commodore Perry sprang aboard his cutter, with his brother, 
Midshipman J. Alexander Perry, and the flag of the Lawrence, 
and succeeded in reaching the Niagara. 

20. The contest was again renewed with the utmost alacrity 
and spirit ; the entire fleet, with the exception of the Law- 
rence, brought into action, through the exertions of Commander 
Elliott ; a continuous shower of broadsides poured right and left 



The Entciijrise. — Battle of Lake Erie. 



134 SIXTH PERIOD. 

into the enemy's vesaeU, and in half an hour the entire fleet 
•urrcutiere*!. Ketuniin;: to the deck of the shattere<i Ijiwrvnee. 
Cominod(»re Perry recfiveii the Hwonls of the scvenil hoht.i. 
commaiiderH, and indite<l and furwanlcil to ilenend Hjurison the 
laconic and meraorahle de«|Mitch, " Wb Havb MtT TUE enemv, — 

AND TUEV AUK OL'RM ! " 

21. Thin brilliant victory w:i> f-Uowcti on the Tith of October 
bv the defeat «»f the Hritihh (Jeneral Proctor and his entire army 
bv (General Hurrn*«»n at the Uiltlo of the Thameit, in which Te- 
cumseh was alain, the territor)' of Michi^iai, inj;lonou«ly sur- 
rt^ndered at the conimenoeoieDt of the war by Hull, retrained, 
and hoiitilitie« on the uorthweetem fnmtier tenuinati^l. 

22. In the latter jiart of October an inetlVciuul movement was 
made, under the direction of Ueuend Wilkimum, by General 
ItanI, for a denccnt u|Kin Canada, and the capture of Montreal 
and KinK'>»ton. At Chateaugay, in Franklin County, near the 
confluence of the Cl^^teaugay and Dudnnle Uivers, within a few 
mile« t»f the St, Lawponcc. a force of al»out four thousand men, 
Ictl by (icnerals Ixard ami llum|>ton, was rejiulsed by the lirit- 
ish under I^ieutcnant ' lel l)e Salalwrr}', and comi)elle<l to 
retreat with considerable U*ks. lul the ci{HHiition agnmst Mon- 
treal was tomporardy al)ftn<lone<l. 

23. tlarlv in NovcmUr. however, another expc<lition or- 
ganized undir the commaml of (ienerala Brr»wn and .Macomb, 
with alx>ut »ovpnt«>on humlred men, procec<k>l fnun the vicinity 
of Ijike Chui . <lown the St I^wrcncc in a i of three 
hundnnl N>at« extending over a distance of five miles, under the 
immetliate direction of (Jeiioml Wdkuinon in porson. AtChrvs 
tier's Fann, near the Canadian villa;:e of Will urp. tli y 
were encounterc<i by a heavy British force under Lieutenant 
CoKmels .Morrison ami Pearson, in whuh C(»lon»l F* P. (iAiNF>. 
Lieutenant-Colonel Aspinwall, and Lieutenant W. J. Woiitii ; 
tin;^MiiHhetl theniHolvcH, and after a severe contest of two hours, 
and with no material advantage on either side, a retreat to the 
boata was ordered by General Wilkinson, and the expedition 
again al)andone<l. 

Battle of ilw Tl. - Drfr: ' • nriii* . — TVmh of Tccam* 

(eh. — Hecorrry <.. . .iiir«n i .;.. rr. — .N. .. c cxpwlitioni against 
f*yft«^ft _ Anion St Chatcaugay. — Battle of Chryttler's Farm. 



SECOND WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN. 185 

24. The transfer of the principal part of the American forces 
from the Niagara frontier to the vicinity of Sackett's Harbor 
and Lake Champlain, and the arrival of heavy reinforcements of 
the enemy under Lieutenant-General Drummond to the former 
position, compelled General McClure to abandon Fort George. 
Accordingly, after having deposited his military stores in Fort 
Niagara, and burned the village of Newark, he opened a fire 
upon Queenstown and inflicted great and unnecessary distress 
upon the defenceless and unoffending citizens of those villages. 

25. On the 18th of December a fearful series of retaliatory 
barbarities was commenced by a detachment of the Royal Ar- 
tillery under Colonel Murray, numbering about five hundred 
and fifty men. On the morning of the 19th, Fort Niagara was 
entered, and the entire garrison, with a few exceptions, includ- 
ing a large number of hospital patients, bayoneted without 
mercy, in revenge for the burning of Newark and Queens- 
town. 

26. Another party, led by General Rial and Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel Gordon, consisting of detachments from the Royal Scots and 
a body of five hundred Indians, crossed over from Queenstown 
to Lewiston, which was burned and plundered, and the inhab- 
itants subjected to the most atrocious cruelties. Similar vindic- 
tive retaliation was extended to the villages of Youngstown, 
Manchester, Fort Schlosser, and the Indian settlement at Tus- 
carora, and for several miles the entire frontier was desolated 
and ravaged. 

27. On the 26th, General Hall, of the New York militia, took 
command of a large body of undisciplined troops at Buffalo, and 
Lieutenant-General Drummond, after having reconnoitred these 
forces, despatched General Rial on the 29th w4th a large body 
of regulars, Canadians, and Indians to the vicinity of the vil- 
lage of Black Rock, near Buffalo. On the next day a sanguin- 
ary engagement occurred between the two armies, resulting in 
the retreat of the Americans, and the abandonment of both the 
villages of Buffalo and Black Rock, to the same fate which had 
swept over the neighboring settlements. 

Evacuation of Fort George. — Burning of Newark and Queenstown. — 
Eeraliatory descent upon Fort Niagara, Lewiston, Youngstown, and other 
villages. — Capture and destruction of Buifalo and Black Rock. 



186 SIXTH PERIOD. 



28. Tina savage and mcrcUeaa warikra, originally provokc<l 
by the unjuKtitiaMc find wantun aggmaion of Generul McCluro. 
reflected the deejtent diMgrnco upt>u lioth nationa, and elicited 
from all (iitarterH, both in Knglund and Aiuerica, the string 
est fefliiig of indi<^iatiun and nnitual recriuiiimtiun. lt« un- 
avoidnblo tendency was feurfully to imbitter the Min^inary 
contest in which the two countries were eogiged, and to defer 
the period of reconciliation. 



18U. 



CHAPTKR VTir 

Dattlb or CiiirrswA asd LtJiDT'i I^a^e, 

i. IiiE 1> . ' i-ure convened on tiie l.'.'»th of January, 1814. 
(iovrntur ioMi'KiNS, in his address to the Ix'j^iHlature, 
rei-oininrntleil (he asMuniption by the .Stato of its tjiiuta of 
tlic direct tax inipoMoil by Congress for the NU)i|Mirt of the war. 
This |)ro|K>«ition was favorably entertained by the Senate, but 
njoctcd by the .VMsenibly by a strict |iarty vote, (ieneml II 
Nathan Sandfoni, and Mr. Van Uurcn were the Democrats 
leaders in the Senate ; and the Fcdomliata in tiie Assembly wen* 
nian«halle<l by David R Ogtlen, Samnel Jones, Jr., and CliarliN 
King of New York, and Jacob Hutsen Van Hens.nalaer of Dutch- 
ess. Chief-Justice Kent was ap|K>inted Chancellor in pUicc of 
Mr. I.ansing ; Smith ThomfMon succee<ltHi him as Chief-Justice of 
the Supreme Court ; and Junas Piatt, of Oneida, was ap{K)inte<l 
Associate Justice in his place. 

2. Lilteral appropriations of money, to be raiaed by State lot- 
teries, were made, during the session, to Union, Columbia, an<l 
Hamilton Colleges, and to various me<lical colleges. The ci»nj 
iuon-8choc»l law of 1812 was rem<Klellc<l, if '^••' '»rdanco with 
the views of the superintendent, .Mr. Hawle\. i ;»c .Vpril eW- 
tions terminated in the complete success of the Kcpubhcaji 

Proreediass of the I.«fri»I«tuiT. — Appointments and nrtnoraU. — Appro- 
] -<({«•< — ConuBon-wbool law. — April elecliPDi. — Triamph 

ot luc jUcpuoucaas. 



OSWEGO AND SACKETTS HARBOR. 187 

party in both branches of the Legislature/and the congressional 
representation. 

3. In February, General Wilkinson moved from French Mills 
to Plattsburg, and General Brown, with two thousand men, oc- 
cupied Sackett's Harbor. In the ensuing March, Wilkinson, in 
an attack upon the British near Rouse's Point, was repulsed, 
and replaced by General Izard. On the 5th of May a British 
squadron, with three thousand men, under the command of 
Lieutenant-General Drummond, appeared before Oswego, with 
the view of capturing the naval and military stores deposited at 
Oswego Falls, but met with so spirited a resistance from Colonel 
Mitchell, and a small flotilla under Captain Woolsey, that they 
withdrew with a heavy loss. * 

4. These stores, thus preserved from destruction, were trans- 
ferred, under the direction of Captain Woolsey, aided by a corps 
of riflemen commanded by Major Appling, to Sackett's Harbor. 
On reaching Sandy Creek, within eight miles of their destina- 
tion, through the treachery of the crew of one of the boats sent 
as a convoy, the British admiral. Sir James Yeo, was apprised 
of their destination, and immediately despatched a force to in- 
tercept them. Major Appling, on being apprised of this move- 
ment, placed his riflemen, artillery, dragoons, and a body of 
Indians in ambush ; and on the approach of the unsuspecting 
detachment gave them so sudden and unwelcome a reception 
that they were driven back in confusion, and the convoy pro- 
ceeded to its destination. 

5. Major-General Jacob Brown, with Brigadier-Generals Scott 
and Ripley, were at this period in command on the Niagara 
frontier ; and instructions from the War Department having been 
received for the capture of Fort Erie, Chippewa, Fort George, 
and Burlington Heights, on the Canada shore, active prepara- 
tions were immediately made for the accomplishment of these 
results. On the morning of the 3d of July, General Scott, with 
four regiments, crossed the Niagara River, landing below Fort 
Erie, and was followed by General Ripley, with four additional 

Movements of General Wilkinson and General Brown. — Unsuccessful 
attack upon Rouse's Point. — Reinoval of Wilkinson and appointment of 
General Izard. — Repulse of the British at Oswego. — Transportation of 
military stores to Sackett's Harbor. — Action at Sandy Creek. 



188 SIXTH PKIUOD. 

regiments, occupyincr a position above the fort, which, with ill 
gnrriiion, was iinnuHliatelv Hiinvntlered to them, 

6. The next nioruinir, CIcneral Scott, with liis hri^^e and a 
oorjiA of artilierv inulcr ( ujituin Towson, driving l>cfure him the 
Itritish adviuice under the conmiand <»f LieutonantC'olonel IVar- 
Bou, tot»k {Kwition beliind Street's Creek, a small stream enter- 
in;; the Niapira Kiver a)H>ut a mile and a half alK)ve C'hip{K*wa. 
On the siimc evening, iienend 1 ade. the tield and 
luitter}' train, ami Major llindman's artilitTA* c«»ri»H, encamjRnl 
in the rear of (IrntTal Sc*«»tt'H |M>Hitii)n ; and on the morning of 
the 5th, (ienend Tetcr B. I'orter, with a part of the New York 
and Pennsylvania vohint(i>rs and a snuUl {Mirty of Indians, oc- 
cupie<i a ] ii in rear of General Hij ' 

7. GencmJ Itml, with a fi»rce of aUmt twenty-five huntln'<i 
moi, con'- i>f the flower of the British anny, was pustinl 
Ix'hind a hii»vy line of intrenthments liclow the ('iiirrrwA 
Creek, at the distance of atmut a mile and a half north of the 
American encampment, and »c|>arate*l fn»m it by a larj:e plain 
of aliout a mile in widtli, lyinj; l>etwein the two crecka, Iwunded 
on the east by the Niagam Ktver, and on the west by a heavy 
wtKxl, with oocjisional openinpi of low px>imd. 

8. Towanls the middle of the day this wood was found to bo 
upied by stnni^ UKlies of the enemy's lij;h! trrM»|>8 and In- 

iH : and Goneml Porter waa despatched with his \ * T-r 
ttteir diM))crsion, which was soon accomplished with oonMUcrable 
shiu^'hter. On er ^' fn»m the wood, the enemy were dis- 

coverwi drawn up lu i .t!l>- iniv on the plain ; and the detach- 
ment. |«inif ]K.'r»ed m all directions, not withstandi^ 
the efforts ot tltiir puiant commander to rally them. 

9. C 1 Scott, in the mean time, ipiorant of these move 
ments oi t:»e enemy, had conducted his bripide across the cr< . k 
into the plnin, for martini exercise, at the same moment that 
the British line were entering; it from the north. Displaying' his 
force near its southern extrcmitv, (Jeneral Rial was confronted 
by the brigade of (Jeneral Scott drawn up in line with military 
precisirm, and fully prepannl, at all points, for the approaching 
combat. 

OspCare of Fort Kric. — BstUe of Chippewa. 



SECOND WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN. 189 

10. The battle instantly commenced with the utmost spirit 
and vigor on both sides, but with a numerical superiority of 

1 nearly two to one in favor of the British, — General Porter's 
command having become entirely demoralized, and General Rip- 

' ley's forces not having been able to reach the position assigned 
them. The destructive effect of the American fire on his ex- 
posed lines soon compelled the British General to order a con- 
centrated charge on his opponent's front, which was so gallantly 
received that a retreat was immediately ordered. General Scott 
at once charged upon the whole line and triumphantly drove 
them from the field in uncontrollable disorder to their camp on 
the Chippewa. 

11. The enemy's loss in this battle was six officers and two 
hundred and thirty men, including eighty-seven Indians killed, 
and twenty-six officers and about three hundred men wounded; 
while that of the Americans, during the action and the preced- 
ing skirmishes, was sixty men killed without the loss of a single 
officer, and nine officers and two hundred and thirty-eight men 
wounded. 

12. General Rial soon afterwards broke up his encampment 
at Chippewa and fell back on Queenstown, and, having thrown 
part of his forces into Fort George and Mississaga, took post on 
Twenty Mile Creek. General Brown, on the 10th, advanced to 
Queenstown, where he encamped with his army ; and General 
Rial, having effected a junction with his reinforcements, occupied 
a new position at the Fifteen Mile Creek, about thu'teen miles 
from Queenstown. 

^13. On the morning of the 20th, General Brown, in ac- 
cordance with the decision of a council of war, advanced from 
Queenstown to Fort George, with the design — in conjunction 
with the fleet of Commodore Chauncey on Lake Ontario — of 
investing and recapturing that fortress. Failing, however, in 
his efforts to secure the co-operation of the fleet, he withdrew 
his forces on the 24th to Chippewa, where he encamped on the 
south side of the Niagara River. On the morning of the 25th 
the advance of the British army, under Lieutenant-Colonel 
Pearson, took position near Lundy's Lane, — a road entering 

Movements of the two armies. — Battle of Lundy's Lane. 



190 SIXTH rEitiou. 



tho main roail l>eK»w the FtilK — at a ditttBOe of a»x>ut three 
miles fn)m the American aunp. 

14. In i^iorunce of this movement of the enemy, Ceneral 
Brown onlered the Fimt Brigade, Captiiin TowHon'RurtiUer^-, and 
tho cavalry and mounted men, under tho direction of (Jfiienil 
Seott, to move towards t^iieoiwiown, with the view of cheeking 
the |)n>'^n-ei» of ' 1, in ca«e he aliould liave deienuined 
to crtMM the river and execute a flank movement up the oastem 
Uink. In c*»m! with theno ordcra, Generul Scott, lietween 
five and six • in tlie w .>n, proceeded with Iuh brigade 
down the road toward* the I* iiii>». 

15. Overt nhinent of Kntiiih cavaJrj* m the 
neigh lur lit mm! ul the Kullis uil«>nuation was immediately sent hy 
Soott to tlie main U<«ly of tho preeenoo of the enemy in force, 
and of his ii n to enga;fc them. Tho column again moved 
forward in the « -n of Lundy's LiUie, in its nuirch to Queens- 
town, aiul, iMSMiug a luiTTDW htrip of woods, suddenly cmerpxl 
in fmnt of Oeneral Uiars entire army, strvn. ' -d by a heavy 
reinforcement just arrived under Lieuteimni uenerul l>rum- 
mond. Ktr |KMited on a commanding elevation, on Uio sum- 
mit of which frowned a batter}* of seven formidable pieces of 
artillery. 

16. AL^iinnt this overw : ' ' "f upwards 
of i\\Tvf thoiiMind five huiHlretl r< -s nulitiii, and Indiana, 
with its artillcr%- in the centre and it* win;r< thn>wn forward, 
reaily to infoM and cnmh all o| • • .n, tiencr.d Soc»tt ad- 

•'cd at Munitet with his single I . numU*ring not more 

ttum thirteen hundr ' !i in all. \ into two divisions, 

and with only two - • ^.1 field pi< A brink fire was tm- 

me^' '"d upiMi the eixTny's line by this small park of 

artiiUry , and so vigorous wan the attack of .Major Je«up*« regi- 
ment on tho extreme right, that the British left, on its front, 
was ]>artially forced Imck for fM>me distance, and Cenernl Rial 
and his staD* captured while on a reconnoisHance, by Captain 
Ketelnun. 

17. In the mean time, <Je!j<r.il Brown hod prr»m|>tly dc- 
S|iatched (Jeneml Kipley with the .*><'<'on«l Briirode, iind tli-nrml 



Grncrml Scott'c advance. — lie cncuuntcn the entire Unti*h furcc — lie 
sitscks with s single bri|;aJe. 



LUNDY'S LANE. 191 

Porter with the volunteers, to the support of General Scott, 
and proceeded himself to the field. Before the ari'ival of this 
reinforcement the night had closed in, and the battle continued 
to rage in its darkness. The incessant and deadly fire of the 
enemy's battery in the centre shattered the advancing columns 
as they approached, and the complete destruction of the gallant 
band seemed inevitable. 

18. At this crisis, General Ripley inquired of Colonel Miller 
and Captain McDonald whether it might not be possible, not- 
withstanding the great disparity of force, to capture and silence 
this formidable battery. The reply of Colonel Miller — "I 'll 
TRY, Sir ! " — has passed into history. Preparations were im- 
mediately made for carrying this daring resolution into effect. 

19. Colonel Miller's regiment was moved forward silently and 
cautiously, but in perfect order, to a fence on the slope of 
the hill in rear of the battery, where it drew up in line ; and, 
after pouring in a well-directed volley, the men rushed forward 
with their bayonets, and, driving before them the artillerists, 
took possession of the guns, and occupied the summit of the 
hill, surrounded by a legion of infuriated foes. 

20. The First Brigade, under General Scott, continued in the 
face of a galling fire to maintain its position, although regiment 
after regiment of its brave defenders was decimated, and one 
alone remained to sustain, with a spirit and bravery bordering 
on desperation, the impetuous charge of the enemy. Major 
Jesup still held the ground he had wrested from the enemy on 
the Queenstown road. Not a ray of light, except the occasional 
flashes of the artillery or muskets of the combatants, illu- 
minated the darkness of the night ; and at half past ten the 
enemy's whole line, discomfited and defeated, had fallen back, 
and again attempted to rally their broken forces in rear of then- 
former position. 

21. During the ensuing two hours a series of bold and des- 
perate efforts were made by the British, reinforced by two com- 
panies of artillery, to regain the captured battery, and with 
it the gi'ound they had lost. Charge after charge, in the deep 
obscurity of midnight, was made with the bayonet, and resisted 

Scott reinforced by Generals Ripley and Porter. — Colonel Miller. — 
Major Jesup. 



192 SIXTH PERIOD. 

with ui! 1^ {tertinacity by the same deadly weapon; and 

after a hiind to hand contest of two hours, waged with n hrav- j 
erv and dftiTniination un|»«ndlelit! in the annaln of modem war- 
fare, the enemy were a^in driven fn>iu the well-i-onteste*! field. 

22. Uenends Brown and Scott having both beea aeverely J 
wouiuIihI, the ci>nuuand now devolved on ifeneral Kipley ; and, 
after nuiintainin*^ their |HMiitiou for an hour aAer the retreat of 
the enemy, the Amenciin fi»roo retinxi, umler ordem roceiveti from 
(jenend Bmwn, to their encampment at (.'hip|iewa, leAving tho 
captured Uittery, which they liad no meaiiB of removing, to fall 
into the {MmMeiuiion of itj* origiiml ownern. 

23. Tho loKH (tf tho .Xmerii'auM in thia Uittle was ton ofBoert, 
and one hundre<l luid sixtv-one men kdlod, and fort\ ' oflli- 
cers and five hundred and ^ y-one men wound< i while 
that of the HritiHh wan five othcvnt and ievcntv-nine ii. !. Kdled, 
Lieutenant-iloneml I>nuumond, (lencral Rial, thirt\ -\.n of- 
ficerti, and five hundred and eighteen men wounded or cap- 
tured. 



CH.\PTEK IX. 

Bbcojtd WaM wirn Great Dmitaix {nmrimdtd). — SlBOB or Fort Eric. 
— Natal ViCTORT os I^kr (uami'Laix. — Attace o» Platthih i: . 

1. On the L'tith of Julv the A:., r, m mnv, under General 
Brown, fell back on Fort Krie, witijout l>cing in any nuui- 
ner hanutsed or diKturlxxl bv tho enemv. In thi« new 

position strong intrenchments and ailditional defences wero 
thrown up, when, on the 3d of AuguBt, the nritiidi, again rein- 
forced, appeared in strength l)oforo the fort, and, after having 
openetl fire upon it, employed themseh-es for several days in 
vigon>u8 prc{Himtions fur a siege. 

2. At Kunrisc on the 7th i»f .Vugtist the enemy's iii-^i Uiitery 
was unmasked ; and from five pieces of artillerv a voUev was 

• • • 

poured upon tho American lines, from which the national flag 

Retirement of the Americao*. — Loaws. — Si<g« of Fort Erie. — Fim 
attack. 



SECOND WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN. 193 

was proudly displayed, amid the inspiriting strains of the vari- 
ous regimental bands. For an entire week the siege was prose- 
cuted with great vigor, the fire was unremitting and severe, and 
the defence, under the immediate direction of General Gaines, 
spirited and persistent. 

3. At about two o'clock in the morning of the 15th, a com- 
bined assault was commenced on the extreme left of the Amer- 
ican lines by the enemy, under Lieutenant-Colonel Fischer, with 
from fifteen hundred to two thousand men. After having been 
repulsed four times, with great spirit and energy, and with 
a heavy loss, by the Twenty-First Regiment, under Major Wood 
of the Engineers, Captain Towson's artillerists, and the Twenty- 
Third Regiment, the attack in that quarter was abandoned. 

4. In the centre, however. General Porter's brigade, two regi- 
ments of the rifle corps, and a detachment of artillery under 
Major Hindman, were confronted by a force of about five hun- 
dred men under Lieutenant-General Drummond. The garrison, 
under the lead of Captain Williams and Lieutenants- McDon- 
ough and Watmough, gave them a spirited reception, hm'led 
back their scaling-ladders, and drove them from the bastions 
with a heavy loss. A second and third assault followed, with 
the same results ; the garrison being now strengthened by Gen- 
eral Ripley's brigade of regulars. 

5. Soon afterwards, taking advantage of the darkness of the 
morning and the heavy columns of smoke, Lieutenant-General 
Drummond moved his troops silently round the ditch, repeated 
his charge, and reascended his ladders with such celerity as to 
obtain a footing on the parapet before any effectual opposition 
could be made. Orders were given to show no mercy to the 
garrison. The conflict was desperate ; Captain Williams and 
Lieutenants McDonough and Watmough fell, the former mor- 
tally wounded ; charge followed charge in rapid succession until 
daybreak, when the enemy, in spite of every effort, retained pos- 
session of the bastion. 

6. On the extreme right, defended by the remnant of the 
First (Scott's) Brigade, under the command of Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel Aspinwall, the Douglass Battery, Colonel McRee, and Cap- 
Combined assault and its repulse. — Drummond's attack, repulse^ second 

attack and repulse. 

13 



104 SIXTH PERIOD. 

tains Boiighton and Harding' of the VulunUen, an UMfibotoal as- 
Bault wfti* also rt'l'iatt'iily iiuule hy the etiemy under Lieutenant 
Colonel Scott. Tlio rihiHiunce in tluH (jiuirter was so Hpiritinl and 
pcrnirttcnt that at davhnuk the Itrititdi tr\M»|«i were wtthdniwu. 

7. The Htni^^'le for tlie |»«»Hj*i'H»»i<»n of the fort was now con 
centrated in the central bastiim, which, at the uiotnent of 
the advance of the Hhtijdi re»er\e to uupinirt the Muccetuiful ail 
viuice, hurst with at exploMon, imd a jet of tlaiuc, in ti 

gled with fnif^inentjt ot liiiiinT, earth, Htone, and huiuau IxHlteii, 
roue to the height of more than a hundnxl feet in the air, and 
fell in a lihower of niiui} in ever}* direction. Tli-- rescrvoi ini 
mediately fell l«ck \ and toon aAerwards the conilict ended in 
tho entire defeat of tbo enemy. whtMte Hhattered cidumiLM re 
turned to their encamiiment with the Kmm of two hundre<I uiul 
twenty kUledf one hundred and wvcutyfour wounded, and 
Dearly two hundred priaononk 

li, Durai^ tho ensuing month the American army wen? Imaily 
eogaged in re|iuinng the ruineil hantion, and Htreni;theniiig and 
incroaaiug the work*, l-th annieii in the interval had rvieived 
reinforcements, and the '•i j«- wan jiroaccuted and iJie defence! 
sustained with skill and spirit on Uith side*. Cienerul Gainet 
had left the encan. t and returned to IJulTalo, and (^euenU 

Brown, wlio had n^-Mml from his wounds, resumed tho com- 
mand of the army. 

9. On the moniing of the 1 7th of September, in the midst of 
a heavy f«»jf with occ:. • • .1 showers of rain, a -..rt... was madt 
from the fort, in two u.»i^..»DS, comnuinde<l resj. ... ly by (Jen- 
emU Porter and Miller, supported by ioloiiel Miller's npiaent 
under General Uipley as a reserve. At noon. General Torter '• 
division, accomi<inieti by Colonel Gilmon and Major Wood, 
move<l from the enonjupment, and, marching through the woods, 
at three o'clock rushed upon tho enemy's lines and carried 
them by assaiUt. 

10. Simultaneounly with this movement, Gtij« nl Miller, with 
the right division, attacktxl the centre of the British line*, and 
com|K'lletl its defiinlcrs to a precipitate flight, after capturing 
their batteries and fortifications. In this gallant and succcss- 



Ccmnd Usiiuu. — Defeat of the Briu*h. — lUialbwenicnts. — Sally 
fh>iD the fort. 



INVASION OF NEW YORK. 195 

ful achievement the Americans suffered severely, Major-General 
Davis, Lieutenant-Colonel Wood, Colonel Gibson, with seven 
other officers and seventy men, having been killed, and Generals 
Porter and Ripley, Lieutenant-Colonel Aspinwall, twenty-two 
other officers, and one hundred and ninety men wounded. The 
British loss was equally severe ; and, after collecting his scat- 
tered forces. General Drummond broke up his encampment, and 
resumed his former position on the Chippewa. 

11. The British having, in August, captured the city of Wash- 
ington, and burned and destroyed the principal public buildings, 
and the entire coast being blockaded by the English fleet, ener- 
getic measures for the defence of the city of New York were 
adopted by the inhabitants. An enthusiastic public meeting 
was held, and the citizens, without distinction of party, pledged 
themselves to a vigorous co-operation w-ith the national and 
State authorities in the prosecution of the war. The various 
fortifications in and around the city were strengthened and 
supplied with effective garrisons, twenty thousand troops were 
raised and stationed in the city under the command of Major- 
Generals Morgan Lewis and Ebenezer Stevens, and Commodore 
Decatiu- placed in charge of the fleet lying in the harbor. The 
city and its suburbs became one vast camp, animated by a firm 
determination to uphold the national honor, and preserve at all 
hazards their beautiful metropolis. 

12. On the refusal of the banks to advance the requisite funds 
for the organization and support of this immense force on the 
security of the United States Treasury notes alone. Governor 
Tompkins patriotically came forward and pledged his own per- 
sonal and official security as indorser on the part of the State 
for a loan of half a million of dollars, which were thereupon 
promptly advanced. 

13. In the mean time. General Sir George Prevost, with fifteen 
thousand men from the Duke of Wellington's successful army, 
aided by a strong naval squadron under Sir James L. Yeo, pre- 
pared for an invasion of the State by way of Lake Champlain. 
The greater part of the American forces stationed at Plattsbm^g, 
under the command of General Izard, having been transferred 

Preparations for defence of the city of New York. — Indorsement of the 
credit of the government by Governor Tompkins. — Invasion of New York. 



lOG >7.Y77/ J'KiaOD. 

to the Xiagam fnmticr, Sir George at once put IiIh cotntnaiul in 
motion without waitini; f<»r the co-operation of the stpiatlron, 
an<l furly in SepteniluT advanced throu^i Chnton County to a 
point within oi^ht miles of I'hittiihur^ on Lake Champhiin. 

14. While theHe niovement« were in pro^jfresa, (lenenil Miicomb 
pitheml tt»u'ether at C'hamplaiu the fn»{^ient« of the American 
army, nmnl>orin^ not m»»re thiui fifteen hundre<l effective men. 
ami, retiring before the liritiidi general, fell Ijack on riutttihur;; 
and completcil the defenccH which had bevn conimence<l on the 
Htiutheni Uink of the Sanuioc, a amail Ktream which eutera the 
lake at tliat place. 

15. ApiiuMt thin small fi*rcc, General Sir George Prevost 
moved hiit army in two columnn on the two parallel roads load- 
ing to IMattMliun;. On the upper, or Ik^ukumntown road, Ilripi- 
dicr (ieneral MiMH>ni with wven hundred nulitia, and Major 
John K. Wool with two hundreil and fifty ri^tdur tnM»|i(i and 
two pieces of artdlerk*, di- 1 and coi • ibly ehecketl hi-. 
pR>jnT«ii, while the «!• ' ol liio lower or I i..- -hore r 

inti ' to Li< uivulonel Applin*; and < ij f.iin Spruui. 

lo. Ucnerul iiivost, however, Hucceedwi, with ctaiKidi'rablo 
loMH, in reaching riattnliur^ ; ajid l>oth divijiiomt of the Ameri- 
can force, hIowIv retiring; U-foru him, and dentroying the bri ' 
over the Saranac, entervd their work*, whtiice tlu*y jwui 
Ktonn of hot shot into the building of the t<^>wn occupuw 
bv the Brit ' The latter coir 1 themnelves for the en- 

8uin^ week in iitc pro|iaration oi i h for aamiulting their 

jKMition, and in the moan time awaiiii^ ilic arrival of the naval 
squadron. 

17. Durinj? thiB |»eru»d, C«)mnuKh>rc 'i iioMA- M I »<).\(»u(jh, with 
a fleet consiHtin^ of four laripe Teasels — the .^iiratopit, Ea^lc, 
Ticonden>pL, and Preble — and ten small galleys, mounting in all 
alxnit Hcventy giinR. lay at anchor in the bay off Pbttsburg, ad- 
joining Ijike C'hanipluin. The enemy's squadron, under Captain 
(ieorge Downie of the K«>yal Navy, made its appearance, enter- 
ini: the Uiy around Cuml»erland Head on the rooming of the 
1 1th of Septemlwr, consiHting of the sloop Finch, the flag-ship 
Confiance, the brig Linnet, and the sloop Chubb, with twelve 

Attack upon PUtt«boi]g. — Bsaie on Lake Champlaia. 



SECOND WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN. 197 

gunboats, mounting in all ninety-five guns, including an eighteen- 
pound Columbiad. 

18. As this imposing squadron came into line around Cum- 
berland Head, — the Chubb moving against the Eagle, the Finch 
towards the Preble and Ticonderoga, and the Confiance against 
the Saratoga, — the several small vessels prepared for action. 
After solemn prayers on board the flag-ship, and without wait- 
ing the signal for attack, the Eagle opened fire for some time 
without effect, followed, as soon as her guns began to tell, by 
the Saratoga and the remainder of the vessels. 

19. The Linnet, then anchored in a favorable position for- 
ward of the Eagle's beam, poured a well-directed broadside into 
the Saratoga ; while the Chubb, seeking a position from which to 
rake the American line, received a broadside from the Eagle, 
which carried away her cables, bowsprit, and boom, and in- 
flicted so severe an injury that she drifted down between the 
two opposing lines, until, after receiving another shot from the 
Saratoga, she was compelled to surrender, and was towed to 
the shore by one of the Saratoga's boats. 

20. Extraordinary efforts were made during the action, by 
the Finch, to disable the Ticonderoga and Preble; and the Con- 
fiance opened fire upon the Saratoga with terrible effect, killing 
or wounding about forty of her crew. But in the course of an 
hour the Finch, badly disabled, was driven from her position 
near the Ticonderoga, and, running upon Crab Island, was there 
captured, while on the American side the Preble was compelled 
to fall back out of range of the enemy's guns. 

21. The contest had now narrowed down to the Confiance and 
Linnet, on the right of the line, against the Eagle, the Saratoga, 
and the galleys, and on the left the British gunboats against the 
Ticonderoga. The Linnet had secured an admirable position 
at the head of the enemy's line, and gallantly sustained and 
returned the fire of the Eagle ; the Confiance was pouring in 
her broadsides on both the Eagle and the Saratoga, and the 
gunboats were struggling for supremacy with the Ticonderoga. 

22. The Eagle having lost her springs, and being prevented 
from bringing her guns to bear, her commander ran her down 

Progress of the fight. — Disabling of the British vessels Chubb and Finch, 
and of the American vessel Saratoga. 



l;s SIXTH PEIUOD. 

Iwtwecn Uio Saratoga and Ticon«itPV'n, whore he apnin opflMd 
lire on the Coiifiancc and Linm-t, the fonner in the mean time 
Hiking' the Sarato^^a on her bows. The SarHti>pi in tuni hav 
inp Ix'come diaahletl, Commotioro MclX>nuii;;h brt>uj;ht lier 
aroiuui, in the face of a galhiig fire from the Linnet, in a posi- 
tion enabhnj? her to brinj; her batteriea to lieaur on the Can- 
fiance, and, afler a gallant contest of upwanU of two houn-. 
coinftelleil that vettael to Mtrike her colors. 

23. Within fifteen minutes afierwards the Uuuci Hurren- 
dered to the Surutopi, and the gtin)>uatis withdrawing from 
their attack on the Tic«>nden>^, escaped from the harUir. The 
oommaiideni of the several remaining veaseU surrendered their 
swords to Commodore McIKm 'on the Saratt^pi, who cuur- 
* ' returawl them to their owners, with the remark 
Uiui lii' re worthy to wear tiicm." The priuouem were 
ordered lo L ral) IrUand, with the strictest direotioos to treat 
them kindly, and s|H>ak to them encoura^nnjjlj. 

24. After the • ' * n of this signal victory the troopc 
were withdrawn In .-ir tieorge Trevost frtmi the town, the liat- 
teries dismantled, the artillery and stores rvnioved, and during 
the succcHxlinj; ni^ht ho followed with his entire anny, leaving 
behind him tl: k and wouudetl, together with immeuae 
quantitiea of |>i >>^ions, camp t*<iuipago, and other storoiy aa 
tn>phies of his sipial discomfiture. 

25. The loss of tlie Untisli on this oooaaion was three offioeri 
and thirty-four men killc<l, and eight offioers and one hundred 
and forty two men wounded, on shore ; Captain Dowuie, four 
oflicers, and fiAytwo men kdletl, auil throe officers and siity- 
uiue men woimded, on tlu* lake. The Amerioans lost one offi- 
cer and tliirty-six men killed, and two offieers ami sixty men 
wounded, on Uud ; an<l four officers and forty -ei^'ht men killed, 
and four officers and fiftvfour men woundc<i, on the lake. 

m 

2G. CJovemor TojiPkixs, in consequence of the exposed situa- 
tion of the countrA-, and the immment danger of invasion of 
till* State, convenetl the Leginlaturc, by proclamation, on the 
l."ih of Sopteml>er. Samiei. Young, of Saratoga, was chosen 
Speaker, and .Varun Cliyk, of New York, Clerk of tlie Assembly. 

Samndrr of tb« Linoci. — Coaiplaie vklory of MeDoaoofh. — Spcci..: 
of the Lcgislatore. 



THE TREATY OF GHENT. 199 

Acts were passed for the increase of the pay of the mihtia in 
the service of the United States, providing for the raising of 
troops for the defence of the State and city of New York, in- 
chiding two regiments of colored soldiers, and authorizing the 
formation of associations for the encouragement of privateering. 
Provision was also made for indemnifying Governor Tompkins 
for all expenditures and responsibilities incurred by him in the 
defence of the State, not provided for by existing laws. 

27. These energetic and spirited proceedings of the New 
York Legislature, combined with the prompt measures for the 
defence of the city of New York by its inhabitants, gave great 
satisfaction to the government at Washington; and so highly 
were the patriotic efforts and sacrifices of Governor Tompkins 
at this crisis appreciated, that President Madison tendered him 
the position of Secretary of State of the United States, JMr. 
Monroe having now the charge of the War Department. The 
Governor, however, conceiving that, in his present position, he 
could be of greater service to the country, declined the flatter- 
ing ofifer. 



CHAPTER X. 

Erie and Champlain Canal. — Common Schools. — State op 

Parties. 

1. At the meeting of the Legislature in January, 1815, 
Nathan Sanford, of New York, was elected United States 
Senator in place of Obadiah German, whose term had expired, 
and Martin Van Buren Attorney-General, in place of Abraham 
Van Vechten, removed. On the 12th of February, information 
was received of the conclusion of a treaty of peace between 
Great Britain and the United States at Ghent, on the 24th of 
December previous, and of the splendid victory of General Jack- 

Spirited proceedings for the public defence. — Their reception at Washing- 
ton. — Governor Tompkins declines the State Department. — United States 
Senator. — Attorney-General. — Treaty of peace with Great Britain. — 
Battle of New Orleans. 



200 SIXTH PFJUOD. 

BOX at Now Orleans on the 8th of January. Thin intellij?cnco 
craateil u ^'tueml feeling of joy and satisfaction throu<;hout the 
country, and wa^j a|)i>n>prialely celebrated in the Mvenil towuM 
and eiticH of the Stale. 

2. in I>« r of thiB year a large puhlic meeting wa« held 
in the city ol *Ncw York in reference to the coustnietion of the 
Krie and C'hanijilaiu C'uiud, Hjiiriltnl resolutions in its favor 
udo|itetl, and a stn»nj; memorial to Uio Ix'^'ihlature, drawn up by 
Mr. Clinton, directed to Ix? forwordeti to that Ixxly. Governor 

ToMPKiss, in his Hi»ot'ch at the oiK'nini? of the eession of 
I sift 

1810, ex|»atiati'd u|»i»n the im))ortnnco of this pvat enter- 
prise, not only to the State of New York, but to the Westeni and 
l*j»«teni States, and anticii>ated the Ecalous co-<i|»emtion of those 
States in the pix>|XMed work. The citizens of AUmuiv also held 
a large meeting and pnimnl strung roeolutiona in favor of the 
nioaann- 

3. The diflficnltiw to U- Biiruiouutctl in the further proeecu- 
tion of this )prviki undertaking' were fonnidablc in tlio extreme, 
and nothing but the indomitable energy and perseverance of Mr. 
CuXTox and his asstHrmtes in the caiiid coiiimission could have 
flucceetletl in overcoming them. The funds of the State had 
Ihx'U wellnigh cxhaustetl by the efforts rendered ncceHsarA* in 
the prosecution of the war ; all aid from the genend govern- 
ment or the ft '• • ''^ H-s had iKH-n |»ertinaciouHly withheld ; 

the resources • i i'ii>.»i« » itter|»risc onpplf<l and i»aralyzed by the 
finimcial emliomuuiments of the chmh. and the pnject itself was 
almost univenudly regarded as visioiiar}- and chimerical. The 
preliminary mcosurcji put in oi>erati<»n for the commencement 
of the work, nmler pn-vioiis acts of the Ixgiskturc, however ably 
devisetl and faithfully executed, hotl l>een neceasarily attended 
by great expense to the State, and the current of public senti- 
ment ran strongly against any additional legisUtion in Uhalf 
of an enteq>rise so vast in its conception and inexhaustible in 
its demiuuls upon the public treasury. 

4. On the 17th of April the Legislature . .^ in.lu.«d, princi- 
pally through the exertions of Mr. Clixtox, powerfully sup- 

(tctjcrnl r- •*. — Canal ni in New York and Alliany. — Got- 

emor's •pct-clu — I ' ' -)»mpnta of the undertaking.— 

Energy and perscvviaii.c ..i ..;. i ....;.. .a ita protecutioo. 



FEDERAL AND STATE ELECTIONS. 201 

ported by Mr. Van Buren and Colonel Young, to pass an " Act 
to provide for the improvement of the internal navigation 
of the State " repealing the previous statutes on the subject, 
and appointing Stephen Van Rensselaer, De Witt Clinton, 
Samuel Young, Joseph Ellicott, and Myron Holley Canal 
Commissioners, with authority to prosecute aU necessary sur- 
veys for the route of the proposed canal, and report to the 
Legislature at its next session. Twenty thousand dollars were 
appropriated for this purpose from the State treasury. 

5. The April elections resulted, by a large majority, in favor 
of the Republicans. Governor Tompkins and Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor Tayler were re-elected, over Rufus King and George 
Tibbetts, with a Republican majority in both branches of the 
Legislature. This body met on the 5th of November for the 
choice of presidential electors. Electors were appointed favor- 
able to James Monroe of Virginia for President, and Daniel 
D. Tompkins of New York for Vice-President, who were sub- 
sequently elected by a nearly unanimous vote j Massachusetts, 
Connecticut, and Delaware casting thirty-four votes only for 
Rufus King for President, and twenty-two for John E. Howard, 
of Maryland, for Vice-President. 

6. At the opening of the session on the 28th of January, 
1817, Governor Tompkins sent a message to the Legislature 
recommending the entire Abolition of Slavery in the State 
from and after the 4th of July, 1827. By a previous act, all 
males born of slave parents subsequent to the year 1799 were 
to become free at the age of twenty-eight, and females at twenty- 
five. The recommendation of the Governor was unanimously 
concurred in by the Legislature. Thus through the philan- 
thropic exertions of the Society of Friends in the city of New 
York and elsewhere, and the energetic aid of Cadwallader D. 
Colden, PeteH A. Jay, William Jay, Governor Tompkins, and 
other friends of humanity throughout the State, the dark blot 
of slavery was destined to be forever erased from our escutcheon. 

7. A few days previous to the 4th of March, Vice-President 
Tompkins resigned his office as Governor, the duties of which 

Act for appointment of Canal Commissioners, and survey of canal. — 
Election of President Monroe and Vice-President Tompkins. — Abolition 
of Slavery. — Resignation of Governor Tompkins. 



202 SIXT// PERIOD, 

were devolved upon Lieutenant-Governor Tftvler. An net 
paned providing for the election of a RuccetMor at the ensuing 
spring.' elections, at which tenn Dk Witt Clixtox, by a nearly 
lumniuious vote, vras elected Clovernor, luul Joiix Tayi.kk Lieu- 
teuant-dovcnior, with a decided Kepuhlicau nuijority in both 
bniuchcii of the Li>gi»lature. 

8. i>n the Inth of March the Canal C'onunissionerH prr«ented 
to the Lcj^inluture an elaliorate n'|x»rt of their pruciH'iiingB ; 
and on the 17th of April, after the mo«t strenuouH op|M»«ition, 
on act wa« poased, prejiaretl by Mr. Clixtox, authorizing the 
couHtruction of the projM«M.<d canal fn»m the lludtion to Uikes 
Chuniphiin and 1. three hundred and Hixty-three miles in 
length, with a surface of forty feet in breadth, declining to 
eighteen at the l>uttoni, with a depth of four feet of water, 
But!icient for the couvevanco of vcium^U of one hundred tona' 
bunleu. 

9. On the 4th of July n\; . this grmt enteqtriiie was 

coniniencetl at Knme, in the pn'i»i«nce of Govenjor C'iJx*it>N and 

the comniiHMtonerK, by Janieit i >u. and the tirxt Kte)M wero 

taken for the eouhtruction of a nia. it public work, hitherto 

uniMjualleil in im{M»rtance and extent in the civilized world, and 

dcKtintMl in the future to exert an imineiiac influence u)K)n the 

agricultural, commercial, and mcclianical iuterettts of the cntiro 

Union. 

10. On the 27th of Januarv, 1818, the Ixwalature 
1818. 

again asmiuble<l. (tovenior l^uxTox, in hiii fimt addrcKS 

to that \nn\\, after prcMonting a clear view of the financial 
afl^airs of the State, and recapitulating the progreiw made in 
the couHtniction of the canal, Rubniitte<l varioun rcconmiencla- 
tions for the improvement of the civil and criminal lawn of the 
State. A formidable [Mtlitieal ' tion to his adminiHtnition, 

heade^l by Mr. Van HunMi, ( i Voung, Htiger Skinner, Wal- 

ter ll«jwne, (teneral Root, and other leailing KepublieanR, iM»on 
develo|wd itself, and gave origin to the formation of two new 
and distinctly marked parties, known aa the Bucktail, or Demo- 
cratic, and the Cliutonian. Joiix Vax Nfsw Yati?* was ap- 

Election of Ooremor CI:-* — nnd Lieatenant-Qorrnior Taylcr. — P«»- 
aagv of the act fbr the mu > m of the emntd. — Commencement of the 

work. — New orgiuii2a:iua of panics. 



TEE STATE GOVERNMENT. 203 

pointed Secretary of State by the Council, in place of Dr. 
Cooper, removed. 

11. On the 16th of March, Gideon Hawley, the Superin- 
tendent of Common Schools, transmitted to the Legislature his 
fifth annual Report, from which it appeared that there were in 
the State upwards of five thousand schools properly organized, 
in which more than two hundred thousand children were an- 
nually taught during an average period of from four to six months. 
The Lancasterian system of instruction was fully indorsed, and 
its advantages were pointed out at great length. This system, 
however, after a brief experiment, failed in accomplishing the 
favorable results which were expected, and it was abandoned. • 

12. During the session an able report on the subject of 
domestic manufactures was presented by Perez Randall of 
Chenango, chairman of the committee on that subject, recom- 
mending, in view of the high price of foreign fabrics and the 
depressed condition of the country generally, consequent on the 
exhaustion produced by the war, the development and cultiva- 
tion of our own industrial and mechanical resources, and the 
reliance, as far as practicable, upon domestic manufacture, 
especially in the article of clothing. 

13. The results of the spring elections were generally favora- 
ble to the Clintonians, a majority in both ]:>ranches of the Legis- 
lature and of the popular vote having been secured in their 
favor. Most of the prominent Federalists of the State were 
among the leading supporters of the administration of Governor 
Clinton, although that party, as a distinctive pohtical organiza- 
tion, had ceased to exist. 

14. The Legislature convened on the 5th of January, ^^^^^ 
1819. General Obadiah German, of Chenango, was cho- 
sen Speaker of the Assembly, after a violent political contest, 

^lasting for two days. Governor Clinton, in his address, again 
adverted to the canal policy of the State, reminding the Legis- 
lature, that, under the act of 1817, the commissioners were only 
authorized to contract for the construction of canals between 



Report of the Superintendent of Common Schools. — The Lancasterian 
system of instruction. — Report on domestic manufactures. — Spring elec- 
tions. — Triumph of the Clintonians. — Meeting of the Legislature. — Rec- 
ommendations of the Governor. ■" 



204 SIXTH PERIOD. 

the Mohawk oiul Seneca River§ and th« Hudson and I-ako 
Chainphiin, and strongly urging the opening of the entire hno 
from Lake Krie to the tide- waters of the Hudaon, and from Fort 
Edward to the heiul of wloop navigation on that river. These 
viewH were incurred in by the I-4»giidature, and an act was jMUiiied 
for carrying them into effect Hknrv .Skym«»ir, of Oneida, was 
app(iinte<I (-'anal (oinmissionrr in place of Mr. Kllicott, n'sigiu-d. 

15. The appointment of Chief J list ii-o Tin»Ml>o.\ as Stcret^iry 
of the Navy under the United StatcH iJovinnuent proilucetl 
luiother vacancy on the bench of the Suj»remo Court of tho 
.State, which was filled by tho promotion of Amiikohf. Spksckii 
as Chief-Justice, and tho app»nntment i»f John W«m>i)w«»rtii as 
Ataociate Justir. . An act was insmnl riMjuinng the lomptroller 
to liquiiUte and settle tho outstanding accounts — as l>etweou 
Vice-lVcjiident Tompkins and tho SlaU-. iukI also between tho 
State and the geiural gt)veniment — gn>wing out of the Uto war. 

IG. The anmuil rc|»ort of tho Su|ierintendent of Common 
Schools exhibitcHi n gratifying increase in the numlwr of schools 
and of children taugliL On his recommendation the general 
bcImhjI law wiiM rcviiie<l and consolidated, an<i its provisions were, 
with neccHHarv foriuj* ami instructuniH, published and distnbuted 
among the several itch«K>l dintncts of tho State. 

17. Tho April electioim terminate<i favorably to tho friends 
of Governor Clinton in lioth branches of t lie Legislature. Mr. 
Van lUiren was HOf>n aAerwanls removed from the office of At- 
tomeyCfcnoral, and Timmas J. Oakley, of Dutchess, appointed 
in his place. During the nummcr an animated controversy was 
maintaini»<l Wtween the State Comptroller, Arcuiuai.d McIx- 
TYiiK, and Vice-President ToMrniNii, in reforenoe to tho sottle- 
mcnt of tho accounts of the latter under the act paased by the 
late Legisliture. The defici«ncy of these aocouuts amounte<l to 
about $120,000 out of an cxi*enditure of seTeral millions, and 
were chiefly explainable by the unmethodical manner in which 
tliey wcro kept, and the n^ -. '"-y of tho crisis in which the funds 

Amendment of tho mnal Inw. — Appointment of Hennr Seymour as 
CommiMionrr. — Jmlicial apptiintmrnt*. — Settlement of Vice-I*r««i<l«nt 
Toropkin*'s accounU- — Report of the Suprnntcndcnt of Common Sch«»oU. 
— HcNision of the •rbool law. — Hcsult of the tprinff e l sct ions. — Alloroer- 
G«Mral«. — CoDtrorer^jr between tho Vicc-rrosidcat and the Oosip«t>Uer. 



RE-ELECTION OF GOVERNOR CLINTON. 205' 

were expended. No moral delinquency was attributable to or 
charged upon the Vice-President. On the 2 2d of October the 
first boat on the Erie Canal sailed from Rome to Utica with Gov- 
ernor Clinton, Chancellor Livingston, General Van Rensselaer, 
and other distinguished citizens on board. 

18. The Legislature reassembled early in January, . ^^^q 
1820. RuFUS King was unanimously re-elected United 
States Senator, and joint resolutions were unanimously adopted 
in opposition to the admission of Missouri as a State, with a con- 
stitution permitting the existence of slavery. Several ineffectual 
efforts were made in the two Houses for the adjustment of the 
pending controversy between the Vice-President and the Comp- 
troller, but no definitive result was reached. 

19. An exciting political contest now ensued between the 
candidates of the rival parties for Governor and Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor at the approaching spring election. The Democrats placed 
in nomination Vice-President Tompkins for the former, and 
General Benjamin Mooers, of Clinton, for the latter office. 
Governor Clinton and Lieutenant-Governor Tayler were re- 
nominated by the Clintonians, and, after a spirited canvass on 
both sides, re-elected by about fom'teen hundred majority. The 
Democrats succeeded, however, in carrying a majority of both 
Houses of the Legislature. 

20. The success of Governor Clinton at this time was due in 
a very great measure to his popularity as the leading champion 
of the canal interest. During the progress of that great work 
a decided revolution had taken place in the public mind as to 
its practicability and prospective value, and the agricultural and 
mercantile interests of the State especially looked forward to its 
completion with the highest expectations of success. To the 
merely local issues of the canvass they were comparatively in- 
different ; but on this absorbing question they were determined 
to sustain the able and far-seeing statesman who had identified 
himself and his administration with the splendid system of in- 
ternal improvement now in progress. 

First boat on the Erie Canal. —-Proceedings of the Legislature. — Re- 
election of Rufus King as United States Senator. — Exciting political cam- 
paign. — Re-election of Governor Clinton and Lieutenant-Governor Tayler. 
— Republican triumph in the Legislature. — The canal policy. 



20C SIXTH PERIOD. 

21. The L^riature reaMembled in November for the Ap- 
pointment of prcKidontial elocioni. Governor Clinton, in Iuh 
address, reconunendud the paasagte of a hiw for the choice of 
presidential elt'ct4.rs by the jieople, and for the calhn^ of a con- 
vention for the amendment of the State ConKtitution. He also 
entered a solemn protest apiinst the interference of the officers 
of the I'nitcd States (loveniment with the State elections 

22. After the choice of presidential electors, (JenenU R<X>T, 
of Delaware Countv. intnHluoiHl a bill deolarinj; the ineom 
jMitibility of the e\ i- of KJavery in this State with its con 
stitution and laws. No action was, however, tiiken u|K»n the 
pn»|»<j!*ition, aJthou^h it was ably supfKirte*! by its mover. On 
the 10th of Novemlx-r a bill was introduced and {Missed accept 
ing a release, on the part of Vice Presii lent Tonipkins, of idl 
claims a^rainst the Statt', and dircctinjj the ( omptndler, on fdini; 
the same, to balance all accounts liotwcrn tho ri'sjK'ctive jiartirs. 

23. The bill for the call of a • ' :i vent ion {Missed 
Ix^th Houses on the 18th, but was r I by the aisting vote 
of (tovernor Clinton in the Council of HeviHion. .\Ocr codling 
upon the fJovemor for proof of his charges of interference on 
the jMirt of the officers of the general govcniment with the State 
elections, and the interchange of a few brief but spicy mcHsages 
between the S<«nate and (Jovemor, the Ix^gislature adjourned. 
Messrs. Monroe and Tompkins were re-elected President and 
Vice-President without serious o| in. 

■ 

Choice of preridcntid dcrtort. — Gorernor't mesMige. — Procrrdinirii of 
the liTfCulature. — - Sefiktncnt of the <'r»T bet wren the ViJ-cl': 

and ( roUor. — Re-dectioo of irumcoi Mooixm and Vioe-l'rcsiacai 

Tom J J 



THE STATE GOVERNMENT. 207 



CHAPTER XI. 

Constitutional Convention of 1821. — Adoption of the New 

Constitution. 

1. On the 9th of January, 1821, the Legislature again 
assembled, and on the 17th the Governor transmitted a 
special message, containing specific and voluminous proofs of his 
allegations in reference to the interference of the general gov- 
ernment in State elections. A new and amended bill was in- 
troduced, and passed both Houses, providing for the call of a 
Constitutional Convention, subject to the approval of the people 
at the ensuing spring election. Martin Van Buren was elected 
United States Senator to fill the vacancy occasioned by the expira- 
tion of the official term of Nathan Sanford and William C. Bouck, 
of Schoharie, appointed an additional Canal Commissioner. 

2. Gideon Hawlet, of Albany, was at this time removed by 
the Council of Appointment from the office of Superintendent of 
Common Schools, — a position which he had occupied for eight 
years to the universal acceptance of all parties, and with the 
greatest ability and fidelity to the important interests confided 
to his charge. His successor was Welcome Esleeck, a young 
lawyer of Albany, so utterly incompetent for the position that 
the Legislature abolished the office, devolving its duties upon 
the Secretary of State. 

3. The joint committee of both Houses, to whom was referred 
the special message of the Governor, presented their report on 
the 15th of March, commenting with gi-eat asperity on the lan- 
guage of the message, submitting counter-evidence to its charges, 
and concluding by expressing the opinion that no extraneous 
influences had been shown to exist in any State election. The 
Legislature finally adjourned in the latter part of March. 

Proceedings of the Legislature. — Governor's special message. — Bill for 
Constitutional Convention. — Election of United States Senator. — Ap- 
pointment of Canal Commissioner. — Proceedings of the Council of Ap- 
pointment. — Abolition of the office of Superintendent of Common Schools, 
and devolvement of its duties on the Secretary of State. — Report of the joint 
committee on the Governor's special message. 



a08 SIXTH PERIOD. 

4. Tlie April elections resultetl in a decided Democratic tri- 
umph in Vxjth bninchca of the I>etfiMlnture, and a majority of 
netu-lv seventy-five thousand for the pro|>o«c<l ainventitin for the 
anundment uf the ( institution, (hi the third Tuemlay of Juno 
an election wjis acconlingly held thn>uj:!ioiit the State for the 
appointment of dclcpites from the sovenil counties. 

6. Althoujfh a large m^ority of tlief*o drlep»te« wore mem- 
Iktb of the Democratic party, political cliHtuictions and local 
resilience were, in many parts of the State, act asiiie for intellect- 
ual ahdity and hij?h monil worth. .Mr. Va.s Hi re-V, though a 
reaidstit uf t'olumlna, was ntunu*<l fp.m <»t«i»j;i> ; and Vice-I*re«i- 
dont T•>l^|•Kl^^ ChnrntUor Kiisr, Jud^<« SriuNCKn, Va.h Nem, 
•nd Platt, Natiia.s ui». of New York, Joh.n Durr, from 

Oninge, Colonel Yoiso, of Siir.it**;.'^ (Jeneral litntT, of Delaware, 
Sami-el N . of Cxjrllandt, ' . Ahkaiiam Van Vkb- 

TK.V, and Srr.rmiN Van KKK«iKi.AKH,ot' Alkituiy, Ki.isiia Williamb, 
of (oluur A others of the most distuiguishcd citi- 

lons of the Slate, were eltx't4Hi to this body. 

6. Tlie convent ihled at the capiiol, in the city of 
AUiaoj, on the 2^th of Au^rust. ]iresenting an array of talent, 
p'litical ability, public ex|>ononcc, and weijfht of personal char- 
acter un.HurfMAScd by any similar body of men heretofore con- 
vrne<l in the I'nion. One hundred and ten delcjratos were 
present ; ami after having lieon calltnl to order by Cienrral Koot, 
Danikl D. TnMrKi.Ns of Kit hmond, Vice-President of the Inited 
States, was, with almost entire unanimity, electixl President, 
and John F. Bacon and Samuel !>. tJanlner, Secretaries. Wil- 
liam L Stone, etlitor of the New Y(»rk ('<»mmcrciid Advertiser; 
Nathanii'l H. Carter, of the Stat(>nnuui ; Moses I. Cant ine, of the 
AllMiny .\r>,n»s ; Marcus T. C. (iould aud Levi H. Clarke, stenog- 
mpherH, —were fonnally adnuttc<l within the liar as rep<»rtcni. 

7. The Convention remained in session f«»r two months and 
a half, during which jK'riod the debate's and discussions were of 
the highest interest, and conducted with the most signal ability. 
The right of suffnige was extended to erery male citizen of the 



8Ttriiiir ^iM^nn*. — Triamph of th« Democrser. — Dtltffslrt to tfas Oini> 

Rtitntioniil ;iiion. — .Mrciint; nnd oriranixatiofi of the Coare a rion. — 

Prncrr«lin(r« o( the Conreatiun. — ChAracter of lbs dsbat cs . — BstSMioa of 
the right of Miffrags. 



THE STATE CONSTITUTION. 209 

age of t\renty-one years and upwards, with no other restriction 
than that of residence and exemption from criminal conviction, 
and the requisition of a freehold qualification of two hundred 
and fifty dollars in the case of colored voters. The councils of 
appointment and revision were abolished, the functions of the 
former being devolved upon the Governor and Senate, and of 
the latter upon the Governor, who was vested with the veto 
power. 

8. The judiciary system was remodelled by the substitution 
of circuit courts in eight judicial districts, into which the State 
was divided, in place of the previous system of trials of im- 
portant issues before one of the judges of the Supreme Court ; 
the reduction of the Supreme Court to a Chief- Justice and two 
Assistant Justices, with the right of appeal to the Senate, Chan- 
cellor, and Judges of the Supreme Court, sitting as a Court for 
the Correction of EiTors, the several judges to hold office until 
the age of sixty years, unless previously removed for cause ; 
and the appointment of a chancellor, for the determination, 
subject to the same right of appeal, of all cases of equity 
jurisdiction. The various county courts of Common Pleas and 
General Sessions, and Justices of the Peace in the several towns, 
were retained, the judges and justices to be appointed by the 
Governor and Senate. 

9. The legislative department was declared to consist of a 
Senate, composed of thirty-two members, distributed equally 
over eight Senate districts, elected for four years, one fourth of 
this number going out each year, presided over by the Lieu- 
tenant-Governor, with a casting vote ; and an Assembly con- 
sisting of one hundred and twenty-eight members, apportioned 
among the several counties according to population, and an- 
nually elected. A Governor and Lieutenant-Governor were to 
be biennially elected, and the several S+ate ofiicers, with the 
exception of the Adjutant-General, chosen by joint ballot of 
the Senate and Assembly once in every three years. Sheriffs, 
county clerks, and coroners were to be elected by the people 
of the several counties for a term of three j^ears. 

10. After adopting these various provisions, and also a sec- 
Judicial system. — Legislative and executive departments. — County and 

State officers. 

14 



210 SIXTH PERIOD. 

tion requiring the call of future conventions for the amendment 
of the ConBtitution on the expiration of each period of twenty 
years thereaAcr, and authorizing the l^j^sUture, in the mean 
time, by a twt>-thinl8 vote, to submit any amendment deeme<l 
requisite to a jjopular vote for its ratification, the Conrention 
finally adjoumcil on the 10th of November ; and at a special 
election, hold in the ensuing February, the new Constitution 
was approved and adopted by a nutjonty of thirty-four thousand 

VOtM. 



ProrUoiM fbr fbturr amOMlBaiti. — AdjournmeBt of tlM OuaVMIlioo 
— Kataicaikm of the Cotwdniltoii by Uw people. 




Aqueduct Bridge on the Erie Canal at Little Falls. 

SEVENTH PERIOD. 

FROM THE CONSTITUTION OF 18^1 TO THE CON- 
STITUTION OF 1846. 



CHAPTER I. 

Administration of Governor Yates. — Third Administration of 
Governor Clinton. — The Electoral Law. — People's Party. 
Removal of Governor Clinton as Canal Commissioner. — Re- 
election AS Governor. — Visit of General Lafayette. — State 
Road. — Completion of the Canal. — Grand Celebration. 



1. The Legislature assembled on the 2d of January, 



1822. 



1822. Governor Clinton, in his address, after adverting 
to the importance of protection to the domestic manufactures of 
the State, congratulated the Legislature on the rapid progi'ess 
of the canals, and the probability of their early completion, 

Meeting of the Legislature. — Governor's address. 



01 o SEVEyTIl PERIOD. 

Mid reoommcniletl various modifications of the civil and cnm- 
iirnl UwB. The two Houi*e« then proceeded to a|»i>ortion tho 
inemljers of the Assemhly nmoiig tlie r 'ive countieA, pre- 
scribe the tunc and umiincr of a|>i»t»iiUiug .-Mate and county 
ofi)oer^ and divide tho State into thuiy ooogreHiooAl di»- 
trictH, 

2. The new Conhiitiiiion huviu-: | r vuietl that no lottery 
should hcrcaifter l>e authorized in the State, and directed tliat 
the sale of tickets, ■ t in lotteries already estahlinhc*! l>y 
law, sliould be \ .icd» John H. Yates and Arrhil»ald Mc- 
Intvro were ftp|Kiuitcd managers of the existing SUite lottery 
for the provision of funds for the several a>lleges and acjulemiea 
thert^ * authorize*! l»y varioiw leginlative acts. This trust 
was LiumUly eiecutc<l by these gentlemen, in accordance with 
tho spirit uf the endowment; and at it« terminutit>n, within a 
short time aAcrwanU, this objectionable system of sup{M>rting 
the lit. -rank- iiiHtitutious t»f the State, was alsindoned. 

3, The time for holding t' ml Stiite eleclicms having 
been clianged by the new (.....-L,i>.....n from April to the first 
week in Noveml>er, JowEi'il t". Yatks, t»f Schemvtaily, one of tho 
judges of the UiU* Supremo Court, was . '■ • » •! Governor, ajid (ien- 
cral KiciSTLS KiwT, of I>eUware, Lie..,, ...at <Iovenior, with no 
other opjiosition than that of Soi^oiiox Soitiiwick, a selfnomi- 
nated c. ■ ' ' ite f«»r (Hnemor, who recci%*ed a few scattering 
▼otes in 'lui- rent woctions of tho State, Ik>th branches of the 
Legialaturo were overwhelminjrly Democratic. 

4. This Ixidy met and organized on tho 7th of January 
of the ensuing year, (iovemor Yates transmitted a bru I" 
to the two Houses, recommending the early passage of 
the rarious laws necessary to carry into effect tho provisions 
of tho new Constitution, and suggesting improTements in the 
penitentiary system of the State, and a general revision of tho 
statute laws. The new Supreme Court was organi7>e<l by tho 
appointment of John Savage of Washington as Chief-Justice, 
and Jacob Sutherland of Schoharie, and Jou.n Woodwoutu 



Abolition of lotteries. — 8i»tc liiprattire lottrrr. — Election of Joceph C 
TatH as Goremor, and Enum«« H<tot. I^ieiitennnt-GoTemor. — IVmocr^' 
mnjoritT in hoth IloniM?*. — Mcetinjr of the T .•. — Appointment ot 

Chancdtor, judgts of the Sapreme Court, tLu^ . ..v...; ju<lg«s. 



THE CONSTITUTION OF 1821. 213 

of Albany, Justices. Nathan Sanford, of New York, was 
appointed Chancellor, with circuit judges in the several judicial 

districts. 

5. On the 13th of February the Legislature, by joint ballot, 
made choice of John Van Ness Yates, of Albany, as Secretary 
of State and ex-ojjicio Superintendent of Common Schools; 
William L. Marcy, of Rensselaer, Comptroller ; Samuel A. 
Talcott, of Oneida, Attorney-General ; and Simeon De Witt, of 
Albany, Surveyor-General. 

6. At the fall elections the Democratic organization through- 
out the State was divided upon the question of the choice of 
presidential electors by the people ; and a new party sprang 
up, known as the " People's Party," which received a consider- 
able accession of strength at the polls, and succeeded in carry- 
ing several of the largest and most Democratic counties in the 
State. 

7. On the 6th of January, 1824, the Legislature again 
convened, and Governor Yates, in his message, repeated his 
recommendation for a general revision of the statutes of the 
State, urged the importance of encouraging domestic manu- 
factures by an increase of duties on foreign importations, and 
called the attention of the Legislature to the subject of such a 
change in the electoral law as would give to the people the 
choice of presidential electors. A bill was accordingly intro- 
duced at an early period in the Assembly, in accordance with 
these views, but requiring that the persons so elected should 
have received a majority of aU the votes cast; and in this 
shape it passed the House by nearly a unanimous vote. In 
the Senate, however, it was indefinitely postponed by a vote of 
seventeen to fourteen. 

8. On the last day of the session, and a short time previous 
to its final adjournment, the Senate, on motion of Mr. Bowman, 
of Monroe, passed a resolution for the removal of De Witt 
Clinton from the office of Canal Commissioner, which was im- 
mediately concurred in by the House by a large majority. 



Election of State officers. — Fall elections. — The " People's Party." 
— Legislative proceedings. — Message of the Governor. — Choice of presi- 
dential electors. — Defeat of the electoral law. — Removal of Governor 
Clinton as Canal Commissioner. • 



214 SEVESTH PERIOD. 

Tliis uujuKtitiiiMo proce<luro creatod au inUnse feeling of 
p<>I)uhu- iiuli^nuition thn«»it;hout the SUtc, and, in conjunction 
with the rejection of the electonil law, j^vc a ijowcrful im- 
petuB to the V ' '« piirty. Largo and enthuHia«tic puhhc 
meeting were hcM lu the principal citioa of tho Stiitc, dfuoun- 
cing the action of tho Legislature, and wannly approving tho 
liiu'ii public »er\'ice8 and chamctcr of (iovenior Clinton. 

*J. On the accond day of June, Governor Yates iuaucd a proc 
lamation convening on extra Ht^twion of tho Legiiikture on the 
2d of Augniit for tho rcconi»iderati<in of the suhjcct of tl»c 
electoral law. A full altt-ndanco of tlie nienibcni of botli Hon— 
was t»)ituincil ; and, after lititcning to tho Ciovemor's in*'--v 
citing hilt reoHona for the call, Mr. Flogg, of C'liut*»n, ..... .i 

rt»olution for an imraetliate ttdj«»ummcnt, on the ground that 
no uecetiaity for BiH'cial Kvi' * -n at thw tinio eimtcd. 1 h» 
lloum?, after nd< • • • ' a nn.-.-.;. i* in favor of the |mHHago of tin- 
electoral law, c..i. >..4t<l in Mr. Flogg'a motion, and, with the 
aiMont of the Senate on the Gth, an a^jounuuent t«» tlu* tirxt 
Monday in Novenilier waa carrie<l. 

10. At the NovenilH?r election, Db Witt Clinton, pi. ^i usly 
noDiinated hy a State Convention at I'tica, was icil... i.l 
(lovemor, over Samuel Young, l»y a nuyority of ne<irly acvenlct u 
thouiuind voteti ; and Ctcneral Jamim TALLMAlxiK, of DutcheHS, 
Lieuteiuint (iovenior, over Cieneral K<>ot, hy a majority of up- 
wartU of thirty two thouaand, he haviii^ received the undivitle«i 
support of U^th the Democratic and People's l»arty. The latter 
party i»ecure<l a majority of three fourths of the AHw-nihly, and 
elected six of the eight senattirs. Mr. Bowman, the mover of the 
resolution for Governor Clinton's removal aM Canal Commissioner, 
was defeate<l hy on overwhelming n^jority in the seventh district 
by Mr. Jolui C. Spencer. 

11. On the 2d t»f November the two Housca assembled for 
tho clK»ic«^ of presidential electors. At this period five promi- 
nont ean«i for tho l*ri*»idency were in the fiehl, and public 
opinion throughout tho Union was divided on their nssiM^ctive 



Inumsc public indigiiation. — F.xtm Mssioa of the LsguUturc. — KIcrtion 
of IkiTcrnor Clinton iintl I :ini-( Jovcrnor TnlUBadfe. — Triumph «f (be 

V ■ • in ibe Le^isuiiMre. — Defost of Mr. Bowmnn in tl»e tcrcnib 

u... L „jicc of presidential decton. — t nudidau* for Um l*re«<kiicy. 



GENERAL LAFAYETTE'S VISIT. 215 

claims to support. William H. Crawford, of Georgia, was 
the Democratic candidate, placed in nomination by the con- 
gressional caucus. John Quincy Adams, of Massachusetts, Sec- 
retary of State of the United States, was the candidate of the 
national administration. Henry Clay, of Kentucky, late 
Speaker of the House of Representatives ', General Andrew 
Jackson, of Tennessee ; and John C. Calhoun, of South Caro- 
lina, Secretary of War, — were respectively nominated by their 
personal and political friends and admirers in different sections 
of the Union. Mr. Calhoun's name was subsequently with- 
drawn, and he became a candidate for Vice-President. On joint 
ballot of the Senate and Assembly thirty-two electors in favor 
of Mr. Adams and four in favor of Mr. Crawford were chosen. 

12. On the 15th of August of this year, the illustrious LxV- 
fayette, the companion-in-arms of Washington during the 
Revolutionary struggle, arrived on our shores, in the ship Cad- 
mus, by invitation of the United States Government, on a visit 
to the country of his adoption, after an absence of forty years 
and a brilliant but diversified career. He landed at Stateu 
Island, and remained as the guest of Vice-President Tompkins 
until the next day, when he was escorted to the city of New 
York by a large naval fleet. Landing at Castle Garden on the 
Battery, amid the ringing of bells, the salutes of artillery, and 
the shouts of the multitude, he was welcomed by the Corpora- 
tion, conducted to the City Hall, and became the guest of the 
city for several days, visiting the public institutions and holding 
crowded levees of the citizens. 

13. From New York he made a tour through the principal 
cities and villages of the Union, everywhere receiving magnifi- 
cent ovations from a grateful people, welcomed by the President 
and Congress, by governors and State legislatures, and civic 
municipalities, and attended by vast crowds of citizens, until 
September of the ensuing year, when he took his final departure 
from New York, at the conclusion of a brilliant ovation at Castle 
Garden, with the blessings of millions indebted to him, in great 
part, for the rich inheritance of freedom bequeathed to them by 
the Revolution. 

Visit of General Lafayette to the United States. — His reception in 
New York. 



21G SKVKXTI/ PERIOD. 

1 1. The new lAirislutiire convened on the 4th of Jan 
imrv, 182r), and (Juvenior Clinton, in his mosst&^'e, reconi 
iiK'iided the {KUUiUffc of a kiw for the choice of jirvtiidentiul 
electors by the f)eople by a |ibinility of voten on a general 
ticket, and the creation of a board of internal impn»v. 
for the completion and ext- : of the cnnal Hy«teni ami tlf 

conHtniction of a State road Hum the liiidHou Kiver to Lake 
Krie, through the uouthcni tier of countien. No choice of Presi 
dent having l)een maile by the elect ond colleges, (JenemJ Jack 
SON, Mr. Adamh, and Mr. CiuwFoith, the three candidate's who 
received the highest vote, were liolloted for by the House of 
Tt«|*resentative{i, in pursuance of the pri'visions of the Constitn 
f Joii.s t^iiNCV Ai>\MfS of Max- ' .'tts, was duly electe^i 

I'rciiacnt ; and J«>liN C. Calhoun, ot v>juth Carolina, having n 
ceived a nuijority of electoral votes, was declared electctl Vicv- 
President. 

15. In atvoniancc frith the rvctmimenduiRUi of the Governor, 
and the memorial of a • ■ ntion of prominent ci*- • ■ of the 
loutheni and wcnteni |njiti"iis of the State, the !.« tiirc at 

this session {nimmhI an act for the apftointmrut of thi\-i* cummih 
■ionent to explore and cause to l»e sun-eyed a route for a S' • 
rotul frtim the HudKon River to I^e Krie, thr •• •'• the st)Utli. i.» 
tier of ct)unti»*s. Nathaniel Pit<-hkr of \N . ^t^.n, and Ja 
DEZ D. Hammond and (iKoitne Murell of Ot** re ap{»ointed 

CoumiisaJoDerN under this art. 

IG. One of the oarlit>st acts of President Adamii, after his in- 
auguration on the 4th t»f .March, was to offi-r <Iovemor Clinton 
the poat of Minister of the Inited <»■♦■••» to (Jrcat Britain. This 

offer was, however, re«j>ectfully ii od, and Hufus King aj>- 

p«»inte<l to that stntion. During the summer, (iovenior Clinton 
vihited Phdadelphia, where he met with a cordial and most grat 
ifying reception ; and soon afterwards, in company with Ju :^ 
Alfred Coukling, of Cayuga, and several other distiuguislied 

^^t'„... q( i)i« T>(»i«Iatarr. — Gor«T»or'« mesMige. — Election br tlM 
Hou- ite|>mentativ«ti of John (juincr Adsias as I*rendmt, and of 

John C. Calhoun as Vice rmidcnt, br the elerton. — Appointmcot of oom- 
miaaionvri for •unrcy of Stale road thniagh the •outheni tier of cour 
— A tt of Miniatcr to Fngland. — Tour of GoWBor CUniwii 

throu^.. i v.... vlraaia, Ohio, and Kentucky. 



THE CONSTITUTION OF 1821. 217 

gentlemen, visited Ohio and Kentucky for the purpose of in- 
specting the public works in progress in those States. He was 
everywhere received on his route with the highest demonstra- 
tions of respect. 

17. The Erie and Champlain Canal having, after eight years' 
incessant labor, been completed, a grand and im-posing celebra- 
tion of the great event took place at the city of New York in 
the fall of this year. On the morning of the 26th of October 
the first flotilla of canal-boats left Buffalo, on Lake Erie, for 
New York, where intelligence of its departure was, in an hoar 
and twenty minutes thereafter, received by the discharge of 
cannon posted at intervals on the entire route, and again com- 
municated to Buffalo by the same signals. 

18. On the arrival of the fleet at Albany, with the Governor, 
Canal Commissioners, State officers, and distinguished citizens 
from every part of the State, they were received by a vast 
crowd and, amid the acclamations of the multitude, the roar of 
artillery, and, the ringing of the bells of the city, escorted to 
the Capitol, where they were cordially welcomed by Philip 
Hone, Mayor of the city of New York, in behalf of its citizens. 

19. At five o'clock in the morning of the 4th of November, 
the fleet, consisting of the Chancellor Livingston, — in which were 
Governor Clinton and his party, — the Seneca Chief, the Young 
Lion of the West, and a long line of canal packets, arrived at 
New York, where they were met by the steamship Washington, 
with a deputation from the Common Council, and conducted 
around the Battery and up the East River to the Navy- Yard 
opposite Brooklyn. Here, amid the ringing of bells and the 
continued discharge of cannon, they were met by a grand naval 
procession, consisting of nearly all the vessels in the harbor, 
gayly festooned with the flags of all nations, and escorted to the 
schooner Dolphin, moored at Sandy Hook. 

20. Arrived at their destination, the Governor, the State and 
city officers, and distinguished guests, entered the Dolphin ; and, 
the convoy of vessels having formed an immense circle around 
the schooner. Governor Clinton poured a keg of fresh water 
from Lake Erie into the waves, thus signalizing the marriage of 



Celebration at Albany and New York of the completion of the canal. — 
Imposing ceremonies on the ocean. 



218 SH\'K\T/I PEUKilK 

the inlaiul ««muj witli the Atlantic Ocemi. Dr. Saiunfl L. Mitch- 
ell then nwule an ohlatiun into the uanie element of the wat4.>n) 
of the (;an;;eH, the ln«lus, the (Janihia, the Nile, the Than; 
the Seine, the Uhine, the Ihinulie, the >f ijipi, Colunu..,. 

Orinoco, I-a IMati^ ami the Amazon, gathervi im him fn»m evcrv 
tjuarter of tlio civilised worUl, in token «»f that commercial 
rciippH-itv I" * '*od hy this grt»at and Kucceiiiiful enterpriHe. 

lil. On liicir rLtuni to the citv, lluy were met at the lUittery 
hv lui immeniti* |inM.H*Hsion of four aiul a half niiK^s in length, 
numl>ering nearly seven thoujuuul jienion*, which jianulcil the 
|>rinci|Nil htrti-tM with lnuuicn* ami miinic until a late hour, when 
the citv wajj brills • •'• " • limitetl, ami the fcutivitieti were 
cl«Mie«l with a mayuui...ii .n^jUay of fireworkn. Thus tenni- 

• «1, without an ' nl to mar it* lMltx•cHl^ the mo*t gurgoouH 

;iua Kplcmlitl cclcliiau-u ever witnei«ie<! in the city. 

22. The NovcmU*r «V • iis tcnuinatcil atlversely to the 
fricmlMof liovcruur Clmt..i,, .■> a wnuU majority in the .Vaik-mhly, 
ullhou^h a majority in the .Senate still cou»i»te<i of Hup|Mirteni 
of hiM admmmtniti • The l*c«»|>le'ii |Mirty were virtually iii»- 
liamleU, ami the Oii. -^ appeared to have Iwcn ogiiiu drawn 
U'twecn the CUntoniauB and the Democracy. 



fllAPTEU II. 

TiiiMD Admixihteatioji or CH»TE»>foii CiijiTox — roMMOji School*. 
— AnDtcTiii^ or MoKOAii. — AitTiM*»<i^ic Kxcitemeht. — I*o- 

I.ITICAL Oll«iAJCI«ATIO>lll.--I»BO*ECCTIOil Or Ma»o?i{«. 

1. TiiK lA%:isliitnrc a;r.un met ..ii the third day of January, 

1826. Governor Clinton, in hi* mea«urc, uru'ed the ira- 

* portance of nn imi>n»vement of the ('ommonSchrwl SvHtcm 

of the State by the etttablishment of ueminariw* for the special 

pre|nration of tcacherH, and repeat«d hia rocommondation fat 

Gmnd rimfi«irion. illumination, and fimrork* in New York. — The Xo- 
Y^nttirr 1* — Extinction of the PropU'ii imrty. — Mcctinj: of the Ixifl*- 

lAlurv. M '»f tl»c Governor. — The ("om moo -School Sjrftcm. — Semi- 

nario for ibc ttlucaiiun of icachcn. — Slate road. 



CLINTON'S THIRD ADMINISTRATION, 219 

the construction of a State road through the southern tier of 
counties. Nathan Sanford was elected United States Senator 
in the place of Eufus King, and Samuel Jones appointed Chan- 
cellor in place of Mr. Sanford. . AzxVRIah C. Flagg, of Clinton, 
was appointed Secretary of State and Superintendent of Com- 
mon Schools. 

2. On the 4th of February, Mr. John C. Spencer, from 
the Literature Committee of the Senate, to whom was referred 
that portion of the Governor's message relating to the improve- 
ment of the Common-School System, submitted an able report, 
suggesting the expediency of a plan of county supervision, con- 
currinof with the recommendations of the Governor for the estab- 
lishment of institutions for the training of teachers, and directing 
the attention of the Legislature to the propriety of employing 
the various academies of the State for that purpose, and ap- 
propriating a specific portion of the public funds to the per- 
formance of this duty. 

3. Resolutions recommending an amendment of the Constitu- 
tion, extending the right of suffrage and providing for the elec- 
tion of Justices of the Peace by the people, in accordance with 
the recommendations of the Governor, were introduced during 
this session and passed both Houses. The bill for the construc- 
tion of the State road through the southern counties, in accord- 
ance with the report of the commissioners appointed for its ex- 
ploration and survey, was defeated by a close vote in the As- 
sembly. 

4. During the summer of this year, William Morgan, a 
Royal Arch Freemason, and a printer of Batavia, Genesee Co., 
had determined on publishing a pamphlet purporting to reveal 
the secrets of Masonry. His intentions having become known 
to the society, on the 11th of September, a Mr. Cheesebrough, 
Master of a Masonic lodge at Canandaigua, procured a warrant 
at Batavia for his arrest for some petty theft, and conveyed him 
to Canandaigua, where he was discharged for want of proof of 
the alleged offence. He was then immediately rearrested for a 



Election of United States Senator, and appointment of Chancellor and 
Secretary of State. — Report of John C. Spencer on the Common-School 
System. — Resolutions for amendment of the Constitution. — Defeat of the 
State Road Bill. 



220 SEVKyriJ PERIOD. 

(lelit of two dollars to one Anhlcv, which had l^een Msigned to 
Cheesebruuj^h, jiuij^anent rcndtrtHl, ami cxecut un iustantly swoni 
out bv the latter, and Morgan coiumittc*! to close continement in 
the Canandaij^Mia jail. 

6. On the nij.dit of the 12th he waa clandcHtinely taken from 
the jaiil by a numlier of nieniWrs of the Miunmic fraternity, 
thrown into a covered carria^, gagged, and conveyed, on the 
evening of the 14th, to the Caiia<U side of the Niagara Uiver, 
thence rctunie*! to the American Klu>re. and confinetl in the mag- 
azine of Fort N i» wluTC he renmineti untd the 2t»th, in 
charge of Colonel Kmg of Niapira, and one KliHha Adams, 
when he «1 .ired, and was never afterwanU eeen, or his fate 
diiMxivere^l. A thonui^'h invc^tipition of the circumstanoea was 
inui. Iv couiuienee*!, the reuultii of which will hereafter bo 
pn-wontc*!. 

G. At the Novriiiln r . ; . (Jovemor Clintos waa reelected 

bv a majority of l«ru.,ii iliri.*e ami four thouMand votett, and 
Genend Natiiamkl ri"niiKii, of Washington County, ekvt.Ml 
Lieutenant Clovenior by aU»ut a similar vole, owing, in the 
CftHc of the latter, to the popular excitement prtwing out of the 
State-road controvemv in the southeni count iii*. The Den^o- 
crats carried a Uirge majority in Iwth brunches of the lx»j;iKlature. 
7. On the asMcmbhng of the I^^inlaturc in the ensuing 
year, Governor Ci.ixitix, in his meHsa;.'^, after congratulat- 
ing that UkIv on the adoption by the {leople. at the late elec- 
tion, of the pro|)(Micd aniendinoiitA to tho Couhtitiition, removing 
all restrictions, except citizcn.Hhip and reHident-o, from the right 
of voting, and providing for the eltHtion by the people of 
Justices of the Peace in the several towns, renewed his reof»m- 
mendation for the construction of a State rood from the Hud- 
son Uiver to Lake Krie. 

8. After statin)^ that the ludance due from the State for the 
construction of the Krie and Cham plain Canal a w.is iilwut eiL'lit 
mUlions of dollarn, and the annual income of thitne works, \i\ 
conjunction with the public fundn set apart for their suf^xut, 

A»..«.in.;..n ntwi t. «.»-.».!.. mnnlrr of Willimn Monnin. — ^"^•^'•♦^loa of 

(i n of Gonrnil riichcr lu Lieut* ..»v*nK»r. 

— V' orit/ in the Legklacare. — Ooremor'* mcMa^^v — Tb« 

csnsls. — b I J. 



THE CONSTITUTION OF 1821. 221 

more than one million, he urged the payment of the debt still 
due at the earliest practicable period, and the investment of 
the surplus funds of the State in other similar and auxiliary 
enterprises. 

9. The number of common schools in the State was esti- 
mated at eight thousand, with four hundred and thirty thousand 
pupils, taught at an annual expenditure of two hundred thou- 
sand dollars. The Governor, in connection with this topic, 
recommended the elevation and extension of the system by the 
establishment of institutions for the preparation of teachers, 
periodical examinations, and small libraries to be attached to 
the several schools. 

10. The bill providing for the construction of a State road 
through the southern tier of coimties, in accordance with the 
recommendation of the commissioners, was again defeated in the 
Legislature, as was also the bill for the construction of a canal 
from the Mohawk River at Utica to the Susquehanna at 
Binghamton, through the valley of the Chenango. The income 
from the Literature Fund of the State, increased by the transfer 
of other available funds, was directed to be apportioned among 
the several academies and colleges according to the number of 
pupils pursuing the classical and higher English branches of study. 

11. On the 17th of April the Legislature adjourned to the 
second Tuesday of September, with a view to the contemplated 
revision of the law, in pursuance of the report of the revisers, 
Messrs. John Duer, Benjamin F. Butler, and John C. Spencer, 
the latter gentleman having been appointed in place of Mr. 
Henry Wheaton, of New York, who had succeeded General Koot, 
originally nominated. The two Houses accordingly assembled 
on the designated day, and remained in session nearly three 
months, exclusively occupied in the special business for which 
they were convened. 

12. The November elections resulted in the complete triumph 
of the Democratic friends of General Jackson, who had now 
entered the lists as a candidate for the Presidency. On the 1 6th 
of November, Thomas Addis Emmett, the eminent New York 

Common schools. — Chenanfro Canal. — Literature Fund. — Revision of 
the laws. — Results of the November elections. — Death of Thomas Addis 
Emmett. 



>oo .9/M'A Vr/7 PERIOD. 

«M ^ •« 

advocate, BiuMonly expired Mhile en;j:i;;' <l in the trial of an 
important cause. Suitable public hononj wero paid to hih 
memor}' throughout the State. 

13i The excitement during the whole of the preaent year in 
the western countiet* of the 8tat«, on the hubjcct of tlie ab- 
duction and proliable murder of William Miip^iin, increased in 
intensity, and began rapidly to aasume a prominent [Kilitical aa 
well OS social importance, hnmetliately after the occurrence of 
the event, public meeting! were c«>nvene<l at Ilatavia and other 
western cities and towna, and committees of pn»minent citixens 
aj'jiointed, who entered \.\\n>\\ a thonnigh and M.>archiiig invi-ii 
gation of all the circumstances connected with it. Ample 
proofs were obtained of a daring and extensive con^piri > 
uniting memliers of the Masonic fniteniity for the commiHM«>u 
of n ^rcut crime, but beyond the facta of the iilMlucti«>n and 
Bi cut unlawful imjihsonment of Morgan, no clew to his 

fate was found. 

14. Numeroua arrwta of parties i I as princifwds and 
•genta of the oonspiracy were mode ; and, upon their own ad- 
miasion of gnilt, several of the leading per|>ctrators were con- 
victed and sentenced to a long imprisonment Hnice, the 
Sheriff of > ' mty, waa pp)m|>tly removed by the 
Governor ; but, m the utter alwencc of pn»of of the death of 
tlieir unfortunate victim, no severer |KMiJilties could be inflicte<l. 
Public sentiment ran violently against the Masonic institut 
whose oaths ami obligationa, it waa suppoacd, countenanced and 
encouraged the crime ; and its innocent aa well aa guilty 
memU-ni were denounced us ju 4 M»d conniving at, if 
not openly jiarticiiKiting in, its ct»mmisaion. 

15. At the annual town mectinga in the spring. «! 
dications were manifestetl of a disposition to carry the . ■ 
trovenjy into the elections, and through the ngency of the 
liullot-lK)x to give expression to the popular indignation agii 
the meml»er» of the .Masonic fraternity and all those who en- 
deavored to institute a discriminatitm between those of their 
numlter who were uctuully concerned in, or ojienly justifie<l, the 

Anli-MssMinlf rxritrrnmt — I'nblic nmdngt. — hm^r*. trin^- -" ' 
convictiont. — I*ubUc iudi^uation s^'aidM Masons. — Puli(ic«l oi^ 
tion. 



.1; 
1. 



DEATH OF GOVERNOR CLINTON. 223 

abduction and subsequent imprisonment, and those who de- 
nounced and repudiated these violent proceedings. 

16. An Anti-Masonic party was soon organized in all the 
principal towns and cities of the West, whose principal object 
was the exclusion from all ofiicial trusts of the adherents and 
supporters of Masonr}' ; and at the fall elections a majority 
was obtained in several counties on this, without regard to any- 
other political issue. All Masons, without distinction of party,' 
were systematically proscribed, and the great mass of the elec- 
tors in this section of the State speedily ranged themselves on 
one side or the other of the new organization. 



CHAPTER III. 

Death and Character of Governor Clinton. — Administration op- 
Lieutenant-Governor Pitcher. — The Morgan Conspiracy. — 
Public Prosecutor. — Chenango and Chemung Canals. — Elec- 
tion OF Martin Van Buren as Governor. — Safety-Fund Banks. 
— Resignation of Governor Van Buken. — Succession of Lieu- 
tenant-Governor Throop. — Death OF Governor Jay. 

1. On the 1st of January, 1828, the Legislature again 
convened. Governor Clintox, in his annual messao^e, re- 
newed his recommendation for the prosecution of the system of 
internal improvements by the construction of the State road 
and the Chenango and other lateral canals in different sections 
of the State, adverted to its prominent agricultural interests, 
and again urged suitable legislation for the improvement of the 
common schools and the preparation of qualified teachers, 
through the agency of seminaries to be established for that 
special purpose. 

2. In the midst of the session the melancholy intelligence 
was received of the sudden death of Governor Clinton, while 
sitting in his chair and conversing with two of his sons, at his 

Anti-Masonic party. — Meeting: of the Legislature. — Governor's mes- 
sage. — Death of Governor Clinton. 



ooi sKVKM'if PI-: HI on. 

rt'»i(ieiice, on the cveninj^ of the 11th of Febnuin*. The hh<»ik 
produced hy this unex|>octeil luid {Miiiiful event wiis dee|)ly nnd 
univerKtiUy ft-lt thrtui^hout tiie State und nation. In tiu* 
Ix'^nMluture, the |irinci{j(d citieit and towns of the State, and at 
the national ('a|iitid, the moHt imiNihin;; denionHtrationti of M»m>w 
and jH'ief were evinced, without distinction of iKirty. All men 
felt that a p^-at htatvsnian ami a ginxl man had do|)artiHl fn»ni 
the scene of his usifulncHK, in the maturity of hiit powers uiul 
the fulness of his fame. 

3. For more than thirty yeani Governor ru.sTttN hml i»« . 
pied a pn>minent and conunanding {tosition on a puhlic otiK « r. 
As private Htcretary to his uncle, ljc«.»rpj Clinton, as Mayor of 
the city of New York, as I'nited States and State Si«nator, 
Canal C'«>mniiMMtonir, and iiovemor, he had lel\ the im|>re»s uf 
his intelUt*tuid and mond ^'atno^-H on all the 1 
interests of the ^tate and imtion. The KuiK Canal wom the 
crowning triumph of his active ami enerp'tio career; luit the 
cause of common school < ;i>iu the a^cultund, nuinufactur- 
Wi*, and com: d interests of the State, and its |ioliticai kii- 
premacy as the most imiM^rtant mendtiT of the I'niou, were all 
identifietl with his Ion;; adnnnistration of its atCiirs. 

4. Mis an. was not of that vul;nu' onler hImiIi aeeks 
only MUn-ejMi and the |»os»o»wion of station and jKiwer, nud 
shrinkH from eticounterin;; |iopular ol>l«M|uy, discoiirapn^ cir 
cumHtiuici>ti, and imhittere<l perh* i, in the pursuit of tho 
ri;;ht. No man saw cleanT the |iath of puhlic tluty, or more 
fully appnviatiHl the means and ends of the pvat cnteqirim'H 
which presi-ntttl themHcIves to his comprrhenMi%*e mincl. No 
opiMiftitiun deterretl him, no sacriHccs or lalKirs were dei'me<I to«> 
great, no ptditiad or )M>rs'>n.il hostility for a moment nwu\' I 
him fnim his onward coume, and no -iiintmenta or dis- 
coun4rcment« intlucnce<l his steady and stately propvss. In 
all the Km;: ami varie<l nnnals <»f tho Kmpirc State, no preatcr 
or nu»re illustrious name tlian that of Dk Witt Clintd.n bos vet 
been found. 

5. On the death of Governor Ci.ixtov, Lieutenant-Govenior 
PiTCMKR assumed the administration of the executive delmrt- 

PrwTpdlnipi of r"^'^'" >wdi«, — Chsrsetcr of Goreraor Cllnloo. — 8itc- 
eeMion uf LiouicQn •omur ritcbcr. 



THE CONSTITUTION OF 1821. 225 

ment for the remainder of the term. In his first message to 
the Legislature he recommended the appointment of a special 
Public Prosecutor for the detection and punishment of the per- 
petrators of the outrage on William Morgan. Daniel Mosely, 
of Onondaga, was accordingly appointed for this purpose, and 
entered at once upon the active discharge of its duties. The 
bills for the construction of the Chenango and Chemung Canals, 
after passing the Assembly, were again defeated in the Senate. 

6. An act was passed for the organization, in the city of 
New York, of a Superior Court of Common Pleas for the trial 
of civil actions. Chancellor Jones being appointed Chief-Justice, 
and JosiAH Ogden Hoffman and Thomas J. Oakley Associate 
Justices. 

7. The political contest for State offices and the Presidency 
was now actively commenced between the friends of the two 
rival candidates, — John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson. 
A third element had also taken the field in the interest of the 
Anti-Masonic organization, which had already assumed a promi- 
nent importance in the State. The candidates of the Adams 
party were, for Governor of New York, Smith Thompson, Associ- 
ate Judge of the Supreme Court of the United States, and 
Francis Granger, of Ontario, for Lieutenant-Governor ; Mar- 
tin Van Buren, of Columbia, United States Senator, and Enos 
T. Throop, of Cayuga, one of the circuit judges, were the Jack- 
son candidates, and Solomon Southwick, of Albany, and John 
Crary, of Washington, the Anti-Masonic candidates for Governor 
and Lieutenant-Governor respectively. 

8. After an excited and animated contest, Martin Van Buren 
was elected Governor and Enos T. Throop Lieutenant-Governor 
at the November elections, by a plurality of about thirty thou- 
sand votes over Thompson and Granger, the Anti-Masonic can- 
didates receiving upwards of thirty-three thousand votes. The 
Legislature was about equally divided between the friends of 
Adams and Jackson respectively, with a liberal infusion of the 

Appointment of Public Prosecutor of the Morgan outrage. — Defeat of the 
Chenango and Chemung Canals. — Superior Court in the city of New York 
— Appointments of judges. — Presidential campaign of 1828. — Nomina- 
tions for Governor and Lieutenant-Governor. — Election of Governor Van 
Buren, Lieutenant-Governor Throop, and President Jackson. 



2'2Ci SEVEXTn PERIOD. 

Anti-Ma«onic clement. Twenty electors in favor of General 
Ja( K.HON and sixteen in fuvr»r of Mr. Adams were chosen. Gen- 
eral A.viiiiEW Jackson, of Tenuesnee, wa« electt^l IViKulent, ami 
John C. Cauioun, of South Carolina, Vicc-I*re«iilent, bv an im 
mcnso ninjority in the electoral college* over Mr. Adams and 
KiciiARD lUsii, of PennMvlvania. 

9. During the year many iitx-e«*i<»uH fnmi the Masonic fra- 
teniity occurretl, and nunuTous revtlutionn of it« m s wen- 

made, 8trcnj,»thening the force and augmenting the numl>erB of 
the o|»|>onent8 of the institution. It« complete overthn»w wuh 
MOW aimetl at, and c»»nvention!* for the or^oinimiion of a plan of 
operationii for the nccomplishment of thin object were held at 
lx?wiiiton, \a} Hoy, I'tu-a, und otlur pliuoK. At the general 
elections in lHi7 and 1828, Boveml of the wcHtern counties 
were cnrrie*! by overwhelming iim^ >, and the public en • 

mcnt continue<i to incr*»T»H«v 

10. On the : iir of the l^'i»»lature at the com- 

*^^ menccment of the e: ' year, Clovenior Vax BrRK.\, 

in his meswige, reoommenditl the appliaition of the surplus funds 
of the State aiul a judicious use of its cre<lit to the extension 
of the Bvstera of intenud improvementA, the eMtablishment of a 
safety-fund f«»r the ultinuite re<lcinption of the notes of the 
several Imnks of the State, the of pre.s; lors 

bv general ticket, and the promotion of the interests of ;. A 

education. 

11. Tlio bill ft .r the estu :»cnt of a safety fund l^mking 

system, in acconlance with the Governor's recommendation and 
a plan submitte<l by Joshua Forman, of Onondaga, liccame a 
law, and thirtv-one banks, exclusive of those in the city of 
New York, were rechartercd under its provisions. Ciiaui.»> H 
DuDLKT, of Allmny, was ap{)ointed Tnite*! States Senator to fill 
the vacancy occasione<l by the election of (iovenior Von Buren ; 
CkkkxkC. Ilu«»NsoN, of Oneida, was appointed .Vttorney-Genenil ; 
Silas Wuigiit, Jr., of St. Lawrence, Comptndler, and John C. 
SPE.NCER, of Ontario, Public Pnvsecutor of the Morgan outrage. 



ProgTtM of iIk5 Anli-M«-«onic excitement. — Meeiinp of the Tx^"-1«itnre. 
— r, -'n nje*!«Mrt>. — It -^ — 8«fciyfund Uw Mnd 

^nr^ ,.; Unk chsrtcm. — .\,, .: ; - 'i*' oflle^ri. — Proddenlial 

cl'> -I- to be chosen by gvncral ticket. 



VAN BUREN'S ADMINISTRATION. 227 

in place of Judge Mosely. Presidential electors were directed 
hereafter to be chosen by general ticket, instead of by districts, 
as heretofore. 

12. Governor Van Buren, having immediately, on the inau- 
guration of President Jackson, received the appointment of 
Secretaiy of State of the United States, on the 12th of March 
tendered his resignation as Governor ; the duties of which office 
now devolved on Lieutenant-Governor Throop. The bill for the 
construction of the Chenango Canal was passed in a modified 
form, subject to a resurvey of the route by the Canal Com- 
missioners, and their report to the next Legislature that the 
cost of the work would not exceed $1,000,000, and that within 
ten years thereafter its receipts would annually exceed its ex- 
penditures. The Chemung Canal Bill also became a law. 
The Legislature adjourned on the 5th of May. 

13. On the 17th of May the venerable John Jay expired at 
his residence in Westchester County, at the advanced age of 
eighty-three years. Having successively filled the offices of 
Chief-Justice of New York and of the United States, Minister 
to England, and Governor of the State, he had achieved a high 
reputation as a statesman, diplomatist, and jurist, and appropri- 
ate marks of respect were paid to his memory by the various 
judicial and civil tribunals of the State. 

14. The November elections resulted in a very large majority, 
in both branches of the Le^-islature, of the Democratic friends 
of President Jackson. The Anti-Masonic party was now re- 
stricted chiefly to the western counties comprised within the 
Seventh and Eighth Senatorial Districts. They carried fifteen 
counties — about one fourth of the whole number — and polled 
sixty-seven thousand votes. No new developments were, how- 
ever, made of the Morgan conspiracy, notwithstanding the spe- 
cial investigation instituted by the Legislature, and which was 
still in progi'ess. 

Governor Van Buren appointed Secretary of State. — His resignation as 
Governor. — Succession of Lieutenant-Governor Throop. — Passage of the 
Chenango and Chemung Cnnal Bills. — Death of Governor John Jay. — 
Result of the November elections. 



228 SEVKSTIl PERIOD. 



CHAPTKR IV. 

Electiott axd Admixistratioii or Gotcrxok Khos T. Tusoor. — 
C'licKAXcjo Caxal. — Pkogkcm or tiik AxTiMAftOjiic Partt. — 
It« Fixal KxTistcTiosr asd Kcai'lt*. — Klrctiox or Govkrxor 
Marct axd LiKL'TK!(AXT-Govft:RxoR Tract. 

1. Ox the first Tuentiay iu Juntmrv. 183(», the Legislature re- 



*mble(L Ciovenior Tni. ini'SKUgo wna prinr-innllv 

devoted to a p-tu-nl oxT>"^ition of the tiiiancinl i n 

aud literurv aiid chaj ' utions of the State. 

2. The Canal Com nil <»u the *JUt of Janiiun*, tmhH 
nutted a report to the \a ire, ni'ttin^ forth, thut^ after un 
i ; litioiml Biirvfv and < n of the route of the content- 

• A 

I'latiil CuKNANtio Caxai., they !• » I irriveil ut the concluuion 
that ita ct»»t would o^cf^fi a million of dollars, and that the 
prtiliahle annual i u itJi tollii, in connection with the 

incrt'aikMl tolU on the Erie Canal, wouhl not tk-fmy the interest 
u|)on its co«t and the ex|ien8eii of refiaini and 8U|)erintendence, 
or either ♦»f th"m. Tluy therefore declmed to proceed further 
in it« ' 

3. Thin m,. . hy a report from Comptroller Wnir.iiT, 
hltowing the inex| . y of uppntpnatuif; any oilditiitnal fundn 
to the conMtniction of public workii, without it|)ecific pntviKion 
for their expeuHO. Notwith«tnnding the»c unfavorahle auiruri€»ji, 
another lull for the ctmHtniction of the canal was inti d, 
and vi^nuwly Kupported hy Mr. (Inuiger and other leading 
memlierH of the IIoum*. hut faile<i to liecomc a law. 

4. The repre«4'ntative« of the Anti-Manonic party held a State 
Convention at Cticn in August, at which Fii.\Nci.s CfUANOKR, of 
Ontario, was phux>d in nomination for (iovemor, and Samicl 
Stkvk.ns, of AlUiny, for Lieutenant -(Iovemor. Forty -eight 
counties were n'pn-s<^nted hy one hundred and four delegnt*.**. 
On the 8th of S'ptoinlicr, F.Xi»s T. TllRonp won nominate*! hy the 
Democrats at Herkimer for (fovemor, and Kdwaiid 1*. Livi.xo- 

>T " • of the L rr. — r ,.r'« mf—tjLr — Rr|>nrt of r«niil 

r - ~ on till Ciivamngo i^^ aiuu. — Defeat of the UU. — roliticAl 



THE CONSTITUTION OF 1821. 229 

STON, of Columbia, for Lieutenant-Governor. No other candidates 
were in the field. Governor Throo£» and Lieutenant-Governor 
Livingston received a majority of eight thousand votes over the 
Anti-Masonic candidates, whose aggregate strength at the Novem- 
ber election was over one hundred and twenty thousand votes. 

5. Mr. John C. Spencer, who had been appointed Public 
Prosecutor of the Morgan conspiracy by the Governor, had en- 
tered upon the discharge of his duties with his accustomed zeal 
and energ}^ and prosecuted his inquiries with indefatigable in- 
dustry and great ability. So successful were his exertions in 
tracing the tangled web of this mysterious affair, that he con- 
ceived it within his power to effect a complete exposure of 
the perpetrators of the crime, with the assistance of additional 
funds from the State derived from the rewards heretofore of- 
fered for the detection. 

6. These funds were, however, refused ; and the Legislature, 
apprehensive, as was contended, of the political effect of the 
disclosures already made and transmitted to that body by Mr. 
Spencer, not only refused to authorize any additional expenditure, 
but cut down his own salary to one thousand dollars. Deeming 
this an intentional insult, not only to himself bat to the gi'eat 
body of Anti-Masons in the State, he at once transmitted his re- 
signation, with the allegation that, so far from having received any 
effective aid from the Executive, his confidential communications 
had been disclosed by the Governor to the counsel for the con- 
spirators. These facts served powerfully to strengthen the Anti- 
Masonic party as a political organization throughout the State. 

7. At the opening of the session in January, 1831, 
Governor Throop's message consisted of a general reca- 
pitulation of the subjects heretofore presented by him, with an 
additional recommendation for the abolition of imprisonment for 
debt. William L. Marcy, one of the justices of the Supreme 
Court, was appointed in February United States Senator in 
place of Nathan Sanford, whose term had expired, and Samuel 
Nelson, of Cortlandt, a Judge of the Supreme Court. 

Election of Governor Throop and Lieutenant-Governor Livinjorston. — 
Strength of parties. — Proceedings of the Public Prosecutor. — Resigna- 
tion of Mr. Spencer. — The Legislature. — Governor's message. — Appoint- 
ments of United States Senator and Judge of the Supreme Court. 



230 SEVEXTH PFJilOD. 

8. Joint resolutions npunst the renewal of the charter of the 
United States Ilnnk were reportetl and adopted by Uith Hoiiscf*. 
and a hill for the construction of the C'henan^ Taual apiin pre 
sentiHl and tiefeated. The Lej^nlature finHlly adjuurned on the 
20th of April. So«»n aftemranls Mr. Van* Hi riin was ap])ointe<!, 
by the President, Minister to hln^land, to which {wtst he re]»ain.<l. 
after resi^^iin^ his poNition in the < 'abinet. 

9. In May Junas Karl, of l>nundii^T waa ap{x>inted Canal 
Commiiwioner, in place of Hinry Seymour, resigiiod. On the 
4th of July, Kx-l*re»idcnt Jaii>2$ M«tMu>E die<l at New York, 
makiniL; the thirtl of tht>so venenible chief nmpstrate.s «ho had 
expired on tfif atinivrrHnrv r.f tl»r» rfiiv uTii. fi .«»vi- \>\t\Xi to tlic 

nation. 

10. The NoTemher elections terminated in (avor of the Pemo- 
cruts in all the districts exi*ept the Ki;.'hth, and in the retnr.i 
of a larp? Ik'niocratic uiajority in ln»th liraiichcs of the \a--..-> 
laturc. Tlic Anti-Masons electe*! thirty nu'inU>rs in the Anst-m- 
bly, and the Natioiuil UepublicaiiH, or siiTiTwrtomof IIknry Clay 

for rrcHident, at the ensuing; election, a, i (fcncnd Jackson, 

six. The n>siduc were Jacksonuin I)eniocnits. William Wirt 
of Maryland, late Attoniey-<ieneral of the I'nited Stat4»s, had 
lieen placed in nomination by the Anti-.Masonic jwrty as their 
candidate for the Pn-Hulency in 18.12. and Ajirw Kllmakkr, of 
Pennsvlvnnin, as V ire- President Mr. Clj^r was nominated bv 
the Nil i Hepublicans, with Jnnv .SMuirwr, of IVniiwl- 

vania, for Vice-President 

1 1. <>n the aanemblin^ of the LogiaUture at the o|K»ninfr 
of the succeedinfif year the mcsaaffD of (tovrnur TiiiC' 
pre8cnte<l the usual topics of infonnation and si.^_ .on to the 
LeiriHlature. .V proposition for a State tax of one mill on the 
dollar, recommende<l by the Oovemor and ( omptroller, was, 
after full disctiKsion. rejectetl, as was also another bill fctr the 
construction of the Chenango Canal. 

12. On the 2lst of June, Francis CiuN'.kh unl SAMLm. 



Renewnl of the United SLitrs B.-ink chanrr. — Drfcat of Cbeoango Canal 
Bill— Minister to Kntrlnnd. — Apftrnntmcnt of r«nal ComininfaNwr. — 
P • •' Kx P- • •• ^._i; .n«. — V 

CA. ■. . I...- • , ,,, J. and \ i. . i I- — Tx'in'ii.i'iiri- ><i i -vi^. 

— K<, • bill for a Slate tax Oi. ;hr (hrnango Cinal. 



POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS. 231 

Stevens were renominated, by the Anti-Masonic Convention at 
Utica, for Governor and Lieutenant-Governor, with an electoral 
ticket headed by James Kext and John C. Spencer. This 
ticket was adopted by the National RepubUcan State Conven- 
tion at the same place, held on the 26th of July. The Demo- 
cratic Convention at Herkimer placed in nomination William 
L. Marcy for Governor, and John Tracy, of Chenango, for 
Lieutenant-Governor ; and an electoral ticket in favor of An- 
drew Jackson for President, and Martin Van Buren, w^hose 
nomination as Minister to England had been rejected by the 
United States Senate, as Vice-President. 

13. The triumph of this party at the November elections was 
complete. The western counties gave their usual majorities for 
the Anti-Masonic candidates, but the Democrats carried the 
State by thirteen thousand majority, and with it both branches 
of the Legislature. General Jackson and Mr. Van Buren w^ere 
elected President and Vice-President by a large majority of the 
electoral votes, the former receiving 219 and the latter 189 
votes, against 67 for Mr. Clay, 11 for John Floyd of Virginia, 
7 (Vermont) for Mr. Wirt, 49 for Mr. Sergeant, 30 for William 
Wilkins of Pennsylvania, 11 for Henry Lee of Massachusetts, 
and 7 for Mr. Ellmaker. 

14. This contest virtually terminated the existence, as a 
political, national, and State party, of Anti-Masonry. In the 
district of its origin it continued for several years to elect its 
Senators and Representatives in the Legislature, but soon be- 
came merged in the other political organizations of the period. 
It had accomplished its mission in the almost total exclusion of 
Masons from public office wherever it had obtained an ascen- 
dency. It had asserted and gallantly maintained the great 
principle of personal inviolability to the humblest citizen, and 
although it failed in fastening upon any one or any number 
of men the perpetration of the crime of deliberate murder, it 
left upon the public mind the assured conviction of the fact, by 
a combination too powerful and extensive to be reached. 

Nominations for Governor and Lieutenant-Governor. —Election of Marcy 
and Tracy. — Democratic triumph at the presidential election. —Jackson 
and Van Buren elected President and Vice-President. — Termination of 
political Anti-Masonry. — Results of the Anti-Masonic organization. 



f t< • t t • > r 



I 1 1 n V .11' 



232 SEVESTII PERIOD. 

la. Nor (lid it succeed in ita cflbrts to destroy and root out 
the iiistitutiun of Musoiirv, or convinco the miyohty of n*^- 
people that nnvthiii^ in its or^niuition or obligations j> 
the crime of murder or nUluction, however some of its unwor- 
thy memliern may have construed tho«e obligations. Mosonr}*, 
though bending for a time before the blast in its fur}*, soon 
regained its original power and influence ; and its up|>onentA, 
among whom were many of the ablest and liest men in tho 
State, abandoning their warfiuro against an institution, dcvoteil 
themselree to a higher and wider ambition, and have K'ft their 
impress upon the councils of the State and nation. 

Rertrsl of Mssoorjr. 




Croton Aqueduct. The Dam. 



CHAPTER V. 

Administration of Governor Marcy. —Internal Improvements.— 
Common Schools. — Chknango Canal. — Enlargement of the 
Erie Canal. 

1. Governor Marcy, in his first message to the Legis- ^^^^ 
latiu-e in January, 1833, reviewed the general pohcy of the " 
State in reference to all its leading interests, recommending a 
judicious prosecution of the system of internal improvements, 
the improvement and advancement of the common schools and 
other educational institutions, and the preservation of public 
and private credit by an economical expenditure of the public 
funds, and a wise restriction of extended banking facilities and 
improvident speculations. 

2. Silas Wright, Jr., of St. Lawrence, was chosen United 
States Senator to supply the vacancy occasioned by the resig- 



Legislative proceedings. — Governor's message. — United States Senators. 



234 CO.UUOY SCHOOLS ASD CASAL KSL.\n(JEME.\T. 

nation of Governor Marty ; and Nathan if.l P. Talluadob, d 
Ihilchess, in pliuoof Mr. l)u»lley, i»ho«o tenn hiul expirtnl ; Mr. 
Fu\GU proniuUil to the office of Comptroller ; anil (leneml Joii\ 
A. Dix to that of Secretary of State and Sujierintentlent of « 
nion SehooU ; and Michael Hoffman, of Herkimer, wa» i\\ 
pointed an additiomd Canal CominiiMiioner. 

3. From the annual rei»ort of the Su|»erintendent it ap|>eari 1 
that the numl»er of commnn uthooU in the State had increaiM ! 
to nine thouwuid i^ix huudreil, in which altout five hnndriHl thou- 
muid chililren were tau^^ht during the jirc' year. AH- ; 

ch.ortering a few . iial Uinka, pasbin^ an act for the oon- 

Btruction of the Chexanoo Canal, ami tramsacting the onlinary 
huainess of the settiou, the LejOHlature ndjounutL The Novem- 
ber el' H resulted in another decidinl triumph of the I>emo- 
cnitic p«irty. 

t. PuMiijx the Huminerof 1S34 the o|»|ioncnt« of the na- 
tional and State adii ii*, now known an the Whio 

partv, placed in noni :iat the I tica Ci>nvention William H. 

Skwakp, of* I, for »»ovenior, luid Silaw M. Stilwell, of New 

York, for Lieutenant aior. The Herkimer Convention re- 

n«>ininated (Jovemor Maik'T and I^ieutenant(ioveni<ir TiucT, 
who were rtM'lecteil in N<»veml»er, with a buxe I>einocratic 
majority in both hranchen of the 1 ilure, by about eleven 

thouiKUul majority. 

r». The U^iislature of 1835 aaenible<l in Januor}-. Gov- 
'*^' enior Maiu v. in bin me—gc^reconu. 1 the enlargement 

of the F.rie Canal, aiHl the ttuppmiion of all Uuik iioteu under the 
denomination of five dollarH, Nith which menAuren were a<h»pted 
by the Ix^ihlaturv by a Mtronj; vote. He aU) eamcHtly iniUHted 
upon the imiK»rtancc of iiecurinK'. by meiuin of the conunon 
school^ Huch an tnbu^tion of all claasai and coiiditionii of our 
future citizens a« Hhould qualify them for u«cfulne»i» ond virtue. 

G. The removal bv the > r\ of the Treaaury of the 

United States, under the direction of iVrsident Jackson, ("f the 

^ r*. — I'nitctl SiAic^ Scn«l«»r». — Cunal romn>i>»i<'in r — Ctim- 

yr.^-.^ ..,;..: ;..no. — K 

Tmcr. — TVmomnic : - uvct- 

Mg«. — Enlii t of U)c Kric C*anal. — Small t>ilU. 



STATE BANKS. — COMMON SCHOOLS. 235 

government deposits of money from the United States Bank, 
whose charter was about expiring, to the State Banks, and the 
consequent contraction of the circulation and discounts of that 
institution, and collection of its debts, resulted in serious em- 
barrassment to the commercial interests of the State, involving 
1 the imminent danger of the suspension of its principal banks. 
To avert this danger, the Legislature, on the 2 2d of March, 
passed an act, on the recommendation of the Governor, tender- 
ing the loan of the credit of the State to the amount of five 
millions of dollars to the banks, should such relief become, in 
their judgment, necessary. 

7. The Bank of the United States, however, soon adopted a 
change of policy, from the contraction to the extension of its 
issues, which not only rendered any assistance from the State 
unnecessary, but so rapidly filled the channels of circulation as 
to induce the creation of a large number of additional banks, 
and an extensive spirit of speculation in their stocks and in real 
estate and commercial transactions generally. A period of un- 
exampled prosperity in nearly all branches of trade and industry 
stimulated to the highest extent this spirit, which speedily per- 
vaded every department of business. 

8. On the 8th of January of this year. General Dix, as Chair- 
man of a Committee of the Regents of the University, submitted 
an elaborate and able report, recommending the establishment 
and organization of departments for the education of common- 
school teachers in one of the academies in each of the eio'ht 
senatorial districts, to be selected for that purpose by the 
Regents. This report was adopted, and carried into immediate 
eifect by that body. On the 13th of April the Legislature 
passed an act authorizing the purchase of District Libraries 
in the several school districts of the State, — a measure originat- 
ing with James Wadsworth, of Genesee, Livingston County, and 
vigorously supported by Secretaries Flagg and Dix, and Sena- 
tors Young, of Saratoga, and Levi Beardsley, of Otsego. 

Effect of the removal of government deposits from the United States 
Bank. — Loan of the credit of the State to the banks. — Commercial revul- 
sion. — Increase of charters. — General spirit of speculation. — Unexampled 
business prospei-ity. — Academical departments for the education of teachers. 
— Common-school libraries. 



ojG SEVEyni PERIOD. 

9. Eiirly in the setBion, Dr. William Campbell, of Otaego, 
wafi ap|»ointetl Survcyor-licncral, to till the vacancy oooaMoned 
by tlie death of the vencmhlc Sim»jn Dk Witt, who for the 
post fifty yeanj liad occupitHi this |»oHitiun, throu^jh till the vicih 
BitudeH of I»rty strife. During; the recess of the l^^^^islaturi . 
John lluWMA.v, of Monroe, was a|ijR)inted Cauiil Commissionei . 
and E«EK Cowen, of .Sarult>j;a, a jud)^ of the Supreme Court, iu 
pUcc of Judge SuthtTbind, resij^netl. The Novemlier elections 
resulted, as usuid, in the complete sucoen of the Democrats in 
both bnuuhfs of the Ix*^:islature. 

10. In the summer of this veiir the couHtructuui t»f the < 
TON AyiKUUcT w«» commenced, at the distance of forty milc^ 
frt>m the city of New York, whence the waters of the Croton 
Kiver, iu We«tehc»tcr County, aUmt five mdcs fn*m the Hud 
■on, were collected by metuis of a dam thrown acn>HS the stream, 
creating' an iuuuense |iond, five mdes in len^rth, « • m^' an area 
of four hundre<l acres, and cuutuinin;; 5lK),tMH»,uuu gallons of 
water. From this dam the great atpieiluct was cut through 
solid rocks, acn>fts valleys luid hUls, by em)>ankments and cul- 
verts, untd it rvttched the Harlem Kiver, which it chissihI by 
the magnificent Hniii HulIKj^;, a stone structiire, 1,450 feet long, 
with fourtet^'n immense piers, 114 feet alwvo tide-watvr, and 
c*»«ting $0(M),<MK). 

11. From this bn»lj«'. ut the foot of One Hun<lnHl and Se\ 
entv-Fourth Street, tin- * id extended to the rcocivint^^ 

m 

reservoir, at the comer t>f highly Sixth Street ai " ^ * \venuc, 
covering thirty five acres, and containing I50,wuu,uini galloiiH. 
whence, through a distributing rescrvt»ir between Fortieth an<l 
F<»rty - I Street, of 21,000,(KK) gallons, the water was con- 

ductini \>\ iron pijies to ever}' portion of the city. 

12. On the ni;;ht of the 10th of Deccmlx-T, one of the coldest 
known for half a century, a terrible and extensive conflagration 
occtirre<l in the lower portion of the city of New York, raging 
for three days with intense fierceness, and consuming six hun- 
dred and forty-eight houses and stores, with a loss amounting 



Death of Simeon I)c Witt. — Ap|ioinimcnt of Surrcjror-Ocneral. — Judc^ 
of the S II pivnie Court ami Can.il Coninii«Aioner. — R«uU of the etectioti 
— ConMniction of the Croion Aqueduct — The High Bridge. — Great fino 
in New York. 



ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR MARCY. 237 

to eighteen millions of dollars, chiefly in Wall Street and the 
adjacent neighborhood, including the large marble Exchange 
Building and the South Dutch Church. The several insurance 
companies of the city were compelled to suspend payment, from 
the excessive magnitude of the losses. 

13. On the 5th of January, 1836, the Legislature again 
assembled. Governor Marcy, in his message, cautioned 

the Legislature against the further prosecution of internal im- 
provements without the provision of specific funds for the pay- 
ment of the interest of their cost. Bills were, however, passed 
during the session for the construction of the Black River and 
Gexesee Canals, and for the loan of three millions of dollars to 
aid in the construction of the New York and Erie Railroad, 
through the southern tier of counties. 

14. Chief- Justice Savage having resigned his position on the 
bench of the Supreme Court, Samuel Nelson was appointed to 
that position, and Greene C. Bronson, Associate Judge. Samuel 
Beardsley, of Oneida, succeeded the latter as Attorney-General. 
William Baker, of Otsego, late Speaker, was appointed an ad- 
ditional Canal Commissioner. 

15. Previous to the adjournment of the Legislature, resolu- 
tions for the expulsion of Senators Kemble and Bishop, on 
charges of fraudulent speculations in the stock of banks chartered 
during the session, were reported by a committee of the Senate 
charged with their investigation. The passage of the resolu- 
tions was, however, anticipated by the resignation of the two 
Senators, followed by that of Colonel Young and Senator Van 
ScHAiCK, who felt indignant at the lenity exhibited in their be- 
half by the refusal of the Senate to expel the offenders. 

16. Jesse Buel, of Albany, and Gamaliel H. Barstow, of 
Tioga, were nominated by the Whig Convention at Utica for 
Governor and Lieutenant-Governor, at the ensuing election, 
aj^ainst Governor Marcy and Lieutenant-Governor Tracy, who 
were again placed in nomination by the Democratic Conventton 
at Herkimer, and re-elected, with a Van Buren electoral ticket. 

Black Kiver and Genesee Canals. — New York and Erie Railroad. — 
Chief Justice and Judge of the Supreme Court. — Attorney-General. — 
. Proceedings against Senators Kemble and Bishop. — Re-election of Gov- 
ernor Marcy and Lieutenant-Governor Tracy. 



238 .SATA'.V/// PERIOD. 

by upwards of twenty-uino thouHaiul inaji»nly, wiib a luivo 
majority in l>otli l.nnuhoK of tlio Lo;4«^l»itun'. Maktis Van 
IkiiKN w»u* elocittl President, and CuKuiel KiciiAKU M. John- 
son, of Kentucky, N'i< t Pn^ikut, t.f the Iniled Statoa, by a 
nmjority of one hundre*i and three eltvt«»nil votes over tien- 
enil William H. nAiuu?*oN, of Ohio, and Fuaxcls (Jrasukk, of 

New Y«»rk. 

17. At the o|aiuii;4 «'i the 8eiv^»v>n in 1837, Govenior 

Makcy a^in invoked the attention of the Legiidaturu to 
the Hul»ject of conunon Hchotd inluaition, in c<»nnection with the 
act of (.VmiCTLiw of the preeedintj year, authorizing' the dejjoiiit 
with the »everul States of the surphiH revenuo of the I'nited 
States. He recommended the appropriation, fnmi the unnuid in- 
come of this fluid, of an amount etpud to tliat ni»w ap|Mjrtioned 
by tho Stale for the supiM>rt of tlio schools, a hl>eml sum fi»r 

the various acailemics, <■■ -uHy thtww in which dejiartmentH 

for the ctlucution c»f tidU.iM had Uvi^ estahhslieil, and tho 
addition of the resitlue to the aipitul of tho commou-school 

fund. 

18. Silas Wright, Jr., was reelected to the Senate of tho 
United Staites. A few days previous to tho adjournment of 
the Ix>gisLiturp, infonnation was received of the Kus{>ension of 
8{)eiie {mymcnts by tho Ixuiks of New York and tho counlr)' 
^rnendlv, prmbicini by the unusual inflation of the currency, 
the immense im|>ortation of forei^ mercliandise, — calling for a 
heaivv demawl of K|ieiie to meet the liuUince of exchanipe, — tho 
rc«piiHitions of the I'nited States (joveniraent ft»r the (layment 
of specie or its ctpiivalent in treasurj* notes in the purchase of 
the pubhc lands, and the withdrawal of the surplus revenues 
of the I'nite*! States from the State Imnks A»r deposit with 
the several States, in accordance with the recent \- * "f (.ou- 
gress. 

19. \ bill was immc<liately introduced and pasKotl by I- tli 
HiTuses, 8us{>cndin^ for one year the provisions of the S^i. . 
Fund Act, nM)uiriQg the appointmeut of rcocivens and tlm 

Deroocnuic triumph — Klcciion of PieMdent V«n Hiirrn snd Vu-r-Prr- 
dcnl U. M. John«>n. — Mc^mirc of the CJorcrnor. — Unitrd Si«tr« I)epo»it 
] nd. — Kccomn»cnd«ti«»n for its invesumont — Tniled S»alc« .*M?n«ior — 
0«acrsi iUftpeosioD of ihc Slate banks. — Prooeediog* of th« Lc|p«Utur«. 



UNITED STATES DEPOSIT FUND. 239 

closing up of the banks ; and a strong effort was made to suspend 
for the same time the operation of the act prohibiting the issue 
of bills under the denomination of five dollars, which, however, 
proved ineffectual. The effect of this disastrous state of things 
was highly unfavorable to the Democratic party, who were, on 
all sides, held responsible for its occurrence. 

20. During the month of March of this year, Ex-Governor 
Yates expired at his residence in Schenectady ; and in January 
previous, the death of the venerable Abraham Van Vechtex, 
formerly Attorney- General, occurred from an attack of paralysis. 
Appropriate legislative, judicial, and municipal honors were 
paid to the memory of these distinguished public servants and 
estimable men. At the November elections the Whigs suc- 
ceeded in electing one hundred and one out of the one hun- 
dred and twenty-eight members of the House, and in carrying 
six of the eight senatorial districts, and obtaining majorities in 
nearly every county of the State. The Senate, however, still 
retained a small Democratic majority. 

21. Towards the close of this year, a formidable insurrection 
on the Canada border occurred, headed by William Lyon Mac- 
kenzie and Joseph J. Papineau, which created great excitement 
on the northern frontier of the State, and involved several of 
its citizens in an unauthorized invasion of a portion of the 
territories of Great Britain. It had its origin in some popu- 
lar discontents in both provinces, which speedily evoked the 
sympathies of their neighbors on the American shore of the 
Niagara River, forming the boundary between Upper Canada 
and the United States. 

22. About the middle of December a party of Americans, 
headed by Rensselaer Van Rensselaer, a son of General Solomon 
Van Rensselaer, of Albany, and accompanied by Mackenzie, 
took possession of Navy Island, situated in the Niagara River 
about two miles above the Falls, and belonging to Canada. 
They numbered about seven hundred men, well provisioned, 
and provided with twenty pieces of cannon. The steamboat 



Whig triumph in New York and Albany. — Death of Abraham Van 
Vechten and Ex-Governor Yates. — Results of the November elections. — 
Overwhelming success of the Whigs. — Canadian insurrection. — Navy 
Island. 



240 SEl'KXTII PEIilOD. 

Caroline wrui broti^'lit from Huftulo to ply n« a ferry-boat be- 
tween the wlaiitl und ScliloKscr's Landing, on the Auiehcan 

shore. 

23. On the niu'ht of the L'Ulh of lX»ceiuU'r. un urmcd i>arty 
of rovali«t8 from the Canada lUiore, under the comnmnd of 
Colonel McNubli, cruased over and lioardud the U.at wlnle its 
unarmed occMiwntu were ijuietly Hleipin^', looftened it fn»m iU 
nitM»rinp*, iwt it on fire, and utnt it down the river in the di 
re* t ion of the Falla, where it was daiihe<i to pieces at the fiKit 
of the catanict. Several of the men on board were kilUnl. 
\v..Miided, or Hunk with the buniing Umt, 

24. A demand by Sir FrunciK liond He»ui. i..uvenior-(Ieneral 
of Ctumda, for the •urrender of Mackenzie, who had fleil to tho 
Unite<l StateH, waji mmle ujion (;«»ven»<.r Man y ; but the nHjuii*i- 
tion wan deeline*!, up<»n the jfnmnd that .MaekiiirJe wan a |K.liti- 
cal offender, »ei'kin;j an any bun in a neutral territory, and 
therefore not amenable, by iutcmational comity, to gurrcnder 
ajt an ordinary' erwuinal. 

25. Pr- ' itit»nii pn»hibitinjj all interference on the part of 
Amerinm ciu^-um in the iniiurre<tionark- movemontu of the Cana- 
dians wert) iiuiue<l by the rretii«lent of the InittHl States and 
the Covemor «»f New York ; and (ienend .Sc«itt, the eommander 
of the I'nited States Anny, was de)i|mtehe<l to the frontier to 
pn*H<'ne <»rtler luid enforce neutndily. The excitement, how- 
ever, on the Umler, c«»ntinue<l for two or thnn? year*, and was 
finally terminated by the defeat of the insur;r»'nts by the British 
and Canadian fi.rceo. The buniinj? of the Caroline was the sul>- 
ject of a spirited nej^^tiation l»etween the representatives of the 
two wuntries. which resulte<l in an amicable adjust menL 

26. Governor Maiuy. at the ofienin}; of the session of 
^^^ 1838, renewed his recmmendation in reference to the 
disposition of that i^irtitm tif the suqibis revenue of the jfoveni- 
ment dei«>sited with the Stiite, with the ad<litional su^rp-stion 
of the nppn>priati«.n <»f fifty five thousand dollars annually, for 
the purchase of school nlist net libraric»H. \\" also rec«»mmpnded 
the passage of a general banking law. 

HiiminiT of the Cftrwlin*, — rrorlamntiono of ncuiniliiy. — Gcocfal Scott 
ti» tho frontier wiih s tniliury force. — Diploaiack "' '' 

1 „ .:urc of 1W«. — Governor '» 



STATE BANKS AND SCHOOLS. 241 

27. The bill authorizing the suspension of the act prohibiting 
the issue of small bills for two years passed both Houses at an 
early period of the session. Mr. Samuel B. Ruggles, of New 
York, made an exceedingly elaborate and able report on the 
subject of internal improvements, recommending large appropri- 
ations for the enlargement of the Erie Canal, and the construc- 
tion of auxiliary works, which met the approval of both branches. 
A general banking law was also passed, and an act appropriat- 
ing the surplus revenue of the United States deposited with the 
State for the purposes of education substantially in conformity 
with the recommendation of the Governor. 

28. General Dix, in his annual report as Superintendent of 
Common Schools, after enumerating the various sources of in- 
come provided by the recent act and previous legislation, sub- 
mitted some very valuable and pertinent remarks in reference 
to the vital importance of moral and religious instruction in the 
common schools, free from all taint of sectarianism, and based 
exclusively on the teachings of the Bible, without note or com- 
ment. 

29. At the November elections, William H. Seward, of Cay- 
uga, was elected Governor, and Luther Bradish, of Franklin, 
Speaker of the Assembly, Lieutenant-Governor, by a majority 
of about ten thousand over Governor Marcy and Lieutenant- 
Governor Tracy. The Whigs also obtained a majority of two 
to one in the Assembly, and carried five of the eight Senate 
districts, leaving the Democrats still in the ascendenc}^ in that 
branch of the Legislature. 

Suspension of the act prohibiting the issue of small bills. — Report on 
internal improvement. — Canal appropriations. — General banking law. — 
Appropriation of United States Deposit Fund. — Report of Superintendent 
of Common Schools. — Moral and religious instruction. — Election of Gov- 
ernor Seward and Lieutenant-Governor Bradish. 



16 



242 i^EVEXT/I I'EIUOD. 



CHAPTER VI. 

Ar>MIM<TRATIOX or titJN I ll^'-ll >» x\ AUI>. — Kl)ltATI<»\ OF (.'ll I I.DKKN 

0» ! V . . . — t'ASAl. I -^ ' MI.NT. — iNTtUNAl. IllfttOV LML.N TA. 

— I > »OUB. — C< .^T WITH ViEGIKIA. 

1. On tho annmnMinj: of tWo I turo od the firvt Tues- 
day of Jantian*. ItS^i'J, lit>ven»ur 6kwaiu», after rtHxunmcml 
iiig the creation of a Uouni uf lutenuil Iiu|irovemei)tH, tlic 

efficient |inMeciition of the eiihirp^nieut of tiio Krie C4uuil, tui<l 
the construction uf three pxmt hues of raiUtJodn in tlio northern, 
oentnil, and Houthem iMH.*tiunii of tho State, paid a just trihiite 
to it« tinuncitil iiru«{)urity and tho previouit development of its j 
reaourcciL 

2. " HiMtor}'," he olMenres, ** fumiidies no paruiiel to tiio fiimn- 
cial arhiovenienta of thin State. It tMirrvudered its kIuu-o in 
tho national domain, and reUncpiiMhed for the ^'neral wi'lfaro 
all the revenues of its forei^ni oonimercc, e<)UAl, gcnendly, tf> 
two thinU of the entire exii«»ndiiure of the FtHh-nd ( Jovoninient, 
It haH, neverthelem, HUtttaineil tho exi>enHe(i of its own udininiii- 
tmtion, fotnidtHl and endowed a hrond HVKteni of oduraiion, 
churitahle iiuttitutions for ever)* clajw of tho unfortunate, aikd a 
penitentiary etitahliHhment which is adopted as a nitMlel by civil- 
ixed nations. It has increased fourfold tho wealth of its citizens, 
and relieve<l them from direct taxation ; and, in midition to all 
this, lias carrie<I fon»-anI a stupendous enterprise of improve- 
ment, all the while diminiHhing its debt, magnifying its credit, 
and autrmentin^ its resources." 

3. The messa^.'e closed with an eloquent tribute to the merits 
of his great pre<le«'e«»or, the illustrious Ci.iXTox, and a recom- 
mendation for the erection of an appropriate monument at tho 
capital for the rtHH»ption of his remains. .\ bill was accortlinirly 
intrtxiuce<i, early in the session, for the accomplishment of this 
object, but failed to Ix'coine a law. An act for the unconditional 

Mertint; of the T>^«l«tur*. — Goremor't nM>«i«ce. — Finanrisl protpentr 
of the State. — Clinton monument — Repeal of the set prohibitiag mull 
bills. 



ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR SEWARD. 243 

repeal of the law prohibiting the issue and circulation of small 
bills passed both Houses. 

4. The official term of Senator Tallmadge having expired, a 
strong effort was made for his re-election, but without success, 
owino; to the failure of the Senate to nominate. John C. Spen- 
CER, of Ontario, was appointed Secretary of State and Superin- 
tendent of Common Schools ; Bates Cooke, of Niagara, Comp- 
troller; Willis Hall, of New York, Attorney-General; and 
Samuel B. Buggles, of New York, Canal Commissioner, to sup- 
ply the vacancy occasioned by the death of Stephen Van Rens= 
selaer, which occurred at Albany in the preceding month. 

5. During the ensuing summer. President Van Buren visited 
the State, passing through the principal cities and villages on 
his route, and receiving every demonstration of respect and 
esteem from all classes of citizens. The fall elections resulted 
in the election of a Whig majority in both branches of the 
Legislature. William Henry Harrison, of Ohio, was placed 
in nomination, in December, by the National Whig Convention, 
as a candidate for the Presidency ; and John Tyler, of Virginia, 
as Vice-President. 

6. The Legislature reassembled on the 7th of January, 
1840. Governor Seward, after informing the Legislature 

that the net proceeds of the canals, deducting the interest 
of the debt for their construction, were $ 1,057,802, and the 
capital of the common-school fund nearly two millions, recom- 
mended the instruction of the children of foreigners by teach- 
ers speaking their own language and professing their own relig- 
ious faith, who should be permitted to participate equally with 
others in the funds provided by the State. 

7. He also informed the Legislature that the cost of enlarg- 
ing the Erie Canal, heretofore estimated by the State officers at 
twelve millions of dollars, would exceed twenty-three millions 
at the lowest estimate, and that for the construction of the 
Genesee Valley and Black River Canals an additional expendi- 
ture of six millions would be requisite. He still, however, 

Appointment of State officers. — Death of Stephen Van Rensselaer. — 
Visit of President Van Buren. — Fall elections. — "Whig nominations for 
President and Vice-President. — Message of the Governor. — Canal en- 
largement. — Common schools. — Instruction of the children of foreigners. 



244 SEVKyriJ PEUIOD. 

ux^gcd the energetic pn>seciition of these and oUicr greet 
measures of iiitoriml iin|ji\»veinent, by roads ami caiuila, as a 
policy dictated by the bij^hest and moist important interests of 

the State. 

8. He next invito<l the attention of the Lej^ihlaturo to a oor- 
re8ix>ndcnce, which luid taken pUice duriiij: the past year, be- 
tween himiielf and the Hxecutive of Vir^Mnia, in reference to 
tlio denmnd of the hitter for the surrender of three colonnl 
fiiptives fnmj that State, charged with steiding a nc(^ skvc. 
This demand had l>een refuae*!, on the px>und that such alleged 
fcl«)ny was not rec«*gni£ed as such, either by the laws of nations 
or those of this State. 

y. The first set of the U . liture was the nn i of 

Natiiamkl p. TAiXMAiKiK OS luite*! States Seiuitor. An act 
for the rejfistry of voters in the city of New York was also 
)iaMM4il, after a spirited discussion, by a strict party vote. 
Seeretar)' Si ii, as SuiK'rintendfnt of C\»ninion Schi»«»lK, trans- 

mitted to the lx«gi»lature, on the 13th of April, re|*«»rts of the 
eevernl visitors of schools, ap|iointed by him undir an act of 
the I i»g year, together with a full exiK)«»tion of his own 

views iVir ihe improvement t»f the system. 

10. He nommende*! the n nt of deputy s»i|>enn- 
tendrnt.H in the jk'vcnd roimtitt* ol ihc Mate, and the (.>stablish- 
ment of graded ' '^ and local Ibtartls of bUbication in the 
sevend cities and iar^jo v *' of the State, the introduction 
of vocal mimic as a br.iuch of ' .ry iuKtruction, and 
variotiH other ' -s in the detaiiH ol U»o c^ ■ : proviHi«»n8 
of law :'. iblu lo Uiese institutioiui. A bill in f • < nlanco 
with thfM.' Mij • -. |>asHed the Assembly, but faded of hc- 
coming a lAw by iiio adjournment of the Legislature on the 
1 4th of May, after paasing an act abolialnng imprisonment for 
debt, an<l approving of the refusal of Go%*enior Skwaru to sur- 
render the fugitives demande<I by the Governor of Viivinia. 

11. An animatetl |K»litical canvass n<»w ensui-d for the elec- 
tion of presidential candi(hit4>s and candidates for the various 
State and cx>unty offices. Immense maoe meetinga were held 

CoBtroTVTfT with Virjnnia. — Appointment of Unitr<l StAtc* Senator. — 
Report of Supcriniendent of Common Schools. — AboUtiooof imprisooairnt 
tat debt — PuUticAl csmpoi^ of 1S40. 



SEWARD ON COMMON SCHOOLS. 245 

in every part of the State, and the utmost spirit and enthusiasm 
pervaded the action of both the great poHtical parties. The 
Harrison electoral ticket prevailed at the November elections 
by a majority of thirteen thousand votes; Governor Seward 
and Lieutenant-Governor Bradish were re-elected, by five thou- 
sand majority, over William C. Bouck, of Schoharie, and Dan- 
iel S. Dickinson, of Broome, the Democratic candidates, and a 
Whig majority was returned in both branches of the Legislature. 

12. William Henry Harrison, of Ohio, was elected Presi- 
dent of the United States by a majority of one hundred and 
seventy-four electoral votes over President Van Buren, who 
had rendered himself very obnoxious to the banking and com- 
mercial interests of the Union by his successful exertions in 
the establishment of an independent treasury, and to a large 
portion of the citizens of the Northern States by his alleged 
subserviency to Southern views and interests. John Tyler, of 
Virginia, was elected Vice-President by a still larger electoral 
majority over Colonel Richard M. Johnson. The administra- 
tion of President Harrison was, however, terminated by his 
sudden death one month after his inauguration in the ensu- 
ing year, and Vice-President Tyler assumed its duties for the 
remainder of the term. 

13. At the meeting of the Legislature in January, ^^^^ 
1841, Governor Seward, after expressing his gratification 

at the increased productiveness of the canals as shown by the 
net receipts of the preceding year, and estimating the entire in- 
debtedness of the State, exclusive of its loans to and liabilities 
for incorporated companies, at about fifteen millions of dollars, 
renewed his recommendation for the education of the children 
of foreigners in our public schools. 

14. The number of uneducated children in the State was 
estimated at thirty thousand, two thirds of whom were of foreign 
parentage; and the importance and necessity of providing for this 
neglected class the means of elementary instruction in schools 
taught by teachers of their own nationalities and religious faith 

Re-election of Governor Seward and Lieutenant-Governor Bradish. — 
Election of President Harrison and Vice-President Tyler. — Death of Presi- 
dent Harrison. — Governor's message. — Revenues of the canals. — State 
indebtedness. — Education of the children of foreigners. 



04n sh\'K\rii rEUiOD. 

were ably and eloquently portrayed. Ho obeen'ed that our n\%- 
terns of education were deficient in couiprehenftivenesa in the 
exact pro|>ortion of the nunil»er left une<lucati«d ; that knowiwijfe, 
however uccpiireti, wiw lietter than i^aioranoe ; and that " neither 
error, acci«lent, nor prejudice ought to be j>crnutletl to dcjirivo 
the State of the educati«»n of her citixena.** 

15. "Cheriahing auch opinionn," he ob«ervc«, "I could not 
enjoy the conaciouaneaa of having discharged my duty, if any 
effort had l»een omitted which waa calculate<l to bring within 
the sch<K»U all who are deatmcd to exerciae the righta of citixcn- 
ahip; nor nhall 1 feel that the i iH perfect, or hlnrty wife, 

until that object be acc»>njj-l i.' i 1 aeck the etlucutii»n 

of tho«c whom 1 have brought l»eforc you, not to per|»etuate any 
pr <•« or tliHtinctiouH which deprive them of inHtruction, but 

in tlmnipinl of all uuch diMinctiona and prejutliccK. I ^• licit 
their v*\ u Ichh fn»m Kymjinthy than l»ecau»e the welfare of 

the State demjUKla it, and cannot diH|M'nKo with it. 

16. ** An imtive citizena they are Umi to the right of nuUnige. 
I ftrii tliat they nmy at li>aat l>e taught to Tvtu\ and write. In 
asking thia, I recjuirc no more for them than I have diligently 
endeavored to secure to the inmates of our |»enitentiariea, who 
have forfeite<l that uablc fnwuhi.HC by crime ; and also to 
an unfortunate race, which, having l>oen plunged by us into 
dcgnidation and ignorance, haa U-on excluded from the fran- 
chi«c bv on arbitraiy pn»|>erty quiUification incongruous with oil 
our institutitma. 

17. "I have not rccnmmcnded, nor do I h<«k, the etlucation 
of any class in fun-ign languages or in particular creetls or faiths ; 
but fully Udieving, with the author of the Decl!in»ti«»n of Inde- 
pendence, that even error may lie safely tolcrati.'d where reaiM.n 
is left free to cttm)>at it, and therefore in«l ' ' no ai>prt>hen- 
sions from the influence of any lar or creed among an en- 
lightene<l |»eople, I desire the educaUon of the entire rising 
generation in all the tlfinents of knowledge we |x>Rse8S, and in 
that tongue which is the universal language of our countrymen. 

18. " To me, the most interesting of all our institutions is the 
Common Sciiooi- I seek not to disturb in any manner ita 



UniTenal education. — The oomoMHi idiooL 



COMMON-SCHOOL SYSTEM. 247 

peaceful and assiduous exercises, and least of all with conten- 
tions about faith or forms. I desire the education of all the 
children in the Commonwealth in morality and virtue, leaving 
matters of conscience where, according to the principles of civil 
and religious liberty established by our Constitution and laws, 
they rightfully belong." 

19. Professor Alonzo Potter, of Union College, who, at the 
request of the Common-School Department, had personally, 
during the preceding year, visited and inspected the teachers' 
departments in the several academies of the State, submitted 
to the Legislature an able report, concluding with a recommen- 
dation for the establishment of a State Normal School, in accord- 
ance with the Prussian and French systems, for the education 
and proper preparation of teachers. The Superintendent, Mr. 
Secretary Spencer, also renewed his recommendation of the pre- 
ceding year for a modification and improvement of the common- 
school system. 

20. Early in the session, John A. Collier, of Broome, was 
chosen Comptroller, in place of Bates Cooke, resigned. The 
Governor transmitted to the Legislature copies of additional 
correspondence with the Executive of Virginia, in the case of the 
demand made by the latter for the rendition of certain alleged 
fugitives from justice in that Commonwealth. 

21. From that additional correspondence, it appeared that in 
the spring of 1840 a citizen of New York, charged with the 
crime of forgery in Tompkins County, had fled to the State of 
Virginia, whither a requisition was forwarded by Governor 
Seward to the Executive of Virginia for his surrender as a 
fugitive from justice. That requisition was refused, and the 
fugitive retained in prison in Virginia by the Governor, until 
the requisition made by him in behalf of the colored fugitives 
from that State should be complied with by the Executive of 
New York. This unjustifiable procedure was promptly disap- 
proved of by the Legislature of Virginia. 

22. On the 26th of April, Secretary Spencer, as Superin- 
tendent of Common Schools, to whom was referred, by the 
Senate, the several memorials and petitions from the city of 

Eeport of Professor Potter. — State Normal School. — Virii:inia corre- 
spondence. — Proceedings of the Governor and Legislature of Virginia. 



248 SEVESTU PERIOD. 

New York for Bucb a rcviuion of the R>-8tcm of public cduca^ 
tion in that city lu* wtmKl provide more fully for the ioHtruo- 
tion of the chiUlrvn of foreipicru aud CutholicH, 8ulmutte«l an 
cUiljomte un«l ablf rf|H»rt, coiuhulin^ with the retonunciuhit ion 
tliat a lU.;ini of C\iiuujiiiHioner» ahouUl be eltvti-*! in lluit city, 
witli uuthority to cstubliKli and orgtuiize a iiyKteni of Wunl Com- 
mon SchooK which hluaiUl coHLHicnite with the i^ ' of tlio Pub- 
lic School > in fun: ' the n'<|uiHitc UuiiittcH for the 
education of ail il . - of cltiUlren, without repird to nli;;i<»u8 
distinctions or other cxistin;; in»iK-<linu'nt« to their inntruction. 
2.1. On the iMith (»f May the lA-;:ihluturo, by a nearly umm- 
inM>UM vote, lauuknl an act, in c«»nf«»nu»ty with the recouuncn- 
dation of ^ Si'i-\« wi, unuMuhiUirj* of the conunon- 
Bchool law, |»i' -: fi»r the uiiiMuntnitnt of a Itcneral Deputy- 
Su|HTintindcut l.-r the State, anil the chHtion of c«»unty iiuiK?rin- 
tendrntM m the i»fvcnd count uji of the Stiitc, by the IWxirdM of 
Su|»enii*i»ni r ivcly. I'lidcr the pn»viKion of thitt act, 
Samiiu. S. Uam»a».i-, of AlUuiy, Uion a clerk in the Sufwrin- 
tentlent'H oflice, wim ttp|»i>intctl (Icneral IVputy-Sui>crint«'ndcnt 
bv Mr. SiT-Ni EIL A liU'rnl : riution was also nui«le for the 
BupjKirt of an educational join i.w > lulucted by Fra.ncus Dwioiit 
of Ontario. 



CIIAPTKR VII. 

— i i;i U. AXD Aryl ITTAL or Al.l.\Ar«l»KK M — I^*- lOW 

or Ko«r.i«i?c A?«n Catmolip Cmildbicx. — Wari» 8cuf»oi-« in New 
York.— Fi!«AMCU or tar State. — Tmb Vikoikia Coxtroviirbt. 

1. Is the early part t»f January, .\lkxa.m>kr M(Lf/>d, a resi- 
dent of Chipi'ewa, in ('uuiida, while visiting I^ewiiiUm, 
' in Niagara County, openly avowe<l his complicity in the 
buniing of the Caroline, and the munler of Jamea Durft-e^ one 
of its crew, on the night of the 2Uth of !)»•. • '-.lu r. 1837. He 



UcjKJrt of Sccrrian- Sjirnnr on chc cdumtioaal •T»tcin of New York 
Citr. — Amendmrnt of the coDunun-Kbool law. — County »a|icnnt4:ndcQU. 
— I)t«trict-«chool juanud. 



THE M'^LEOD TRIAL. 249 

was at once arrested, and committed to the jail at Lockport, 
on a criminal charge, an indictment found against him for the 
murder of Dmfee, and a civil suit commenced against him by 
the owner of the Caroline for damages sustained by its destruc- 
tion. The British Minister at Washington, Mr. Fox, on learn- 
ing the facts, immediately demanded his release by the American 
Government, avowing and justifying the seizure and destruction 
of the Caroline as the act of the British Government. 

2. In reply to this demand, the Secretary of State, Mr. Web- 
ster, informed Mr. Fox that the national government had no 
authority to interfere with the judicial proceedings of a State ; 
that the case was under the exclusive control of the Supreme 
Court of the State of New York; and that, in his judgment, 
that tribunal would concm' with himself in the opinion, that, in 
view of the avowal made by the British Government, the prisoner 
should be released. 

3. The case was argued in the Supreme Court, at its August 
term, in Utica, by Joshua A. Spencer, United States District 
Attorney for the Northern District of New York, in behalf 
of McLeod, and Attorney-General Willis Hall in behalf of 
the State. The counsel for the prisoner, in a masterly argu- 
ment, contended that the actual existence of a state of war on 
the northern frontier, at the time of the commission of the 
offence, whether formally recognized by the respective govern- 
ments or not, justified the prisoner in obeying the orders of his 
commanding officer, and that the sole responsibility for the con- 
sequences rested upon the British Government. 

4. The Court, however, concurred with Justice Cowen, who 
delivered its opinion adverse to the application for the release 
of McLeod, and remanded him for trial at a special circuit in 
Oneida County, before Judge Gridley, of the Fifth Judicial 
District, where he was acquitted, after an extended and exciting 
trial, on full proof of his entire innocence of the charge, — his 
confession having been made in a mere spirit of boastfulness 
and drunken bravado. Thus terminated an investigation which 
at one time threatened to result in serious national complications. 



Arrest of Alexander McLeod for the burning of the Caroline. — Demand 
of the British Government for his release. — Keply of Mr. Webster. — De- 
cision of the Supreme Court. — Trial and acquittal of McLeod. 



250 SKVF\T/I rF.niOD. 

5. On the 3tl of Jamiarv, 1842, the LothaUture r- 

1842 • 

a88em)ile<L CJovcnior Sewakd, after agnin rcfcrriinjf to 
the controvt-rwy with Vii^iuift, aud cxUliii^ the nttontion of the 
l^otriHliiture to u retuhutorv oct of the (ieuenil AsHoiuiily of that 
State culcuhitcHl to eiuUimuw (»ur coaiitiii;; tnule, reneweil hia 
rccomiiieiulHt ion for Hiich a (iiAtrihutioii of the pul)lic-schcK>l 
n»oiit'v in the city of Now York a« to allow the children of 
forri;.au'rM and Catholic* to {»artici|Mite in the l>ounty of the State. 
G. •• Thi8 j>ro|>«Miition," he olNteneH, " to pither the youij.r 
from the Htrceti* tuul whan'et) int<.) the nursiTiej* which the Stat*.', 
milicitouH for her iiecurity npiiiiKt i^ionuice, luu» |»re|«ire<l for 
them, hoii nonictinicD \w\\ trwitetl om a device to a{>|>ro|iriatc 
the Mrhool fund to the endowment of scmiiuu*ies fi»r teaichin^ 

lutr- Hund fuithH, thuMto jieqietuate the |>rejudiocti it iiei'b* tt> 

reiii.'w . sonietimeu on a Ncheiue for dividing tliat precioui* fiuul 
nniong a hundreil jarring H^vtH, and thu» increiiMing the religiouH 
anini'-''--' it fttriveii to heal; ik>metinK>n an a pLui to auhvert 
the |»i. .i....ui; religion, and intrtnluce c»ne rL'pugniuit to the oon- 
Bciencej* of our fellow -citiz*MMi ; while, in truth, it Himply pro|w«oa, 
by eidighteningequiUly the mindH of all, tti onahle them to detect 
error wherever it may exiM, luitl t<i rethioc uncongenial ni'uweii 
into one intelligent, virtuoun, Imnnonioun, and happy people. 

7. ** lk>ing now rvlievt*il from all mich miHConceptionit, it pro- 
8ent8 the queHiionn, whether it is wiser aiul more humane to 
ctlucate the otTHpring of the |Mior tlian to leave them to gn>w 
up in ignomnct* aud vice ; whether juvenile vice in more easily 
eradicate*! l»v the Court of Seioiiona than by common (fchcH>l8 ; 
whether |inrt*ntM have a riglit to Iw hennl c*»ncen»ing the inntnic- 
tion and in»tnictoni of their children, and tnx|i(iyeni in relation 
to the expenditure of public fundn ; whether, in a liepublican 
government, it in neceiM«iry to inteq>oMe an indrTw»n«lent ctirjiora- 
tion Iti'tween the |HH>ple and the Kchoolma> md whether it 
is wise ai»d just to divfruichiHe an entire ct»mmunity of all con- 
trol over public eiln' .. rather tluin Buffer a T«rt to be repre- 
sented in pr< I jxirt ion to ita numlwrH and contr; 451." 

8. The viUuc of the endowments of the c«'K< _• -> an»l academies 
of the State was htated at $2,175,731, with an anniml income 

Ctovcrnor Scwonl'-* : — The Virginia controrwiy. — Appropria- 

tion of icbool OKNMy in .>i 



THE VIRGINIA CONTROVERSY. 251 

of $47,1G5 ; and the productive capital of the common-school 
fmid at $2,175,731, with an annual income of $261,000, ex- 
clusive of pubhc lands valued at $ 200,000, and the principal of 
the United States Deposit Fund. The entire capital perma- 
nently invested for the support of education, including the 
literature, common-school, and United States Deposit Fund, 
and school edifices, was estimated at $ 10,500,000. 

9. The net revenue from the State canals, after deducting all 
expenditures during the preceding year, was stated at one mil- 
lion and a half dollars, and the permanent public debt for their 
construction at $ 15,540,530. The prosecution of the enlarge- 
ment of the Erie Canal and the completion of the Genesee 
Valley and Black Iliver Canals were also urged. The cost of 
all the public works of internal improvement then in progress, 
including two thirds of the expense of constructing the New 
York and Erie Railroad, was estimated at $ 36,589,379, and 
the entire value of the taxable property of the State at seven 
hundred millions. 

10. The whole number of school districts in the State, as ap- 
peared from the annual report of the acting Superintendent, 
was 10,886, and the number of children under instruction 
over six hundred thousand. The whole amount of money ex- 
pended during the preceding year for the payment of the wages 
of teachers was upwards of one million of dollars, of which 
about one half was contributed by parents on rate bills, and 
the residue from the public funds. There were upwards of 
six hundred and thirty thousand volumes in the several district- 
school libraries of the State. 

11. The Superintendent of the City Schools (S. S. Raxdall) 
recommended such a modification of the system of public educa- 
tion in New York City as would combine the acknowledged excel- 
lency of that system, as administered by the Public-School Soci- 
ety, with its extension to that large class of children now virtually 
excluded from its benefits, thus fully carrying out the enlightened 
views of the Governor in this respect, while at the same time pre- 
serving the system from the perils of sectarian influences. Azariah 

Colleges, academies, and common schools, — Revenue of the canals. — 
State debt. — Cost of internal improvements. — Taxable valuation of the 
State. — Condition of the schools. — Report of Superintendent. 



2j2 SKVKSTfl PERIOD. 

C. Flaoc was, on tl»e 7th of Febniarv, elected Comptroller ; 
Samuel Youno, Secretary of Stnto and .Su|)erintendent of Com- 
mon SchooU ; and (iKimoE P. I^vKKeR,of Erie, Attoniey-CIenenil. 

12. The finunciul condition of the State at this time wax such 
as to excite general ujm ' ii and alarm. Heavy loans had 
lx?come neceijsar)' in onicr lo lU-M-hanre the presninj: claims upon 
the treasury for the {xiyment of contract<»rs ami lal)oreni on the 
nutncrous public wurkn in pn»;:reH8 ; and a tem|K»rary suKpension 
of thoHi* works, and the imjiosition of a State tax of one mill 
on the dollar, were recommended hy the Comptn»ller as the only 
means of extrication from these emltarrasKments. Ihlls were 
acconliiijjly reported, in ncconlance with these views, in both 
branches of the !• • ' *ire; and, after full (liscusMion. an act 
emlMMlyin^' these |<i"> i>i«>iif» Un^me a law on the 2yth of March. 

13. On the llth of April the two Houses adopte<l a joint 
resolution in reference to tlie Virginia controversy, declaring 
that sti>uhn^ a slave, contrary to the laws of Vir>;inia, was a 
crime within the mcaninj; of the <'onstitution, and dinn'tin^ the 
Governor to transmit such rrmtlution to the Kxecutivc of that 
State. (io%*emor Skwari*. on the ensuing day, transmitted a 
roessafre, in which, after reitenitin^ his previous views on the 
Kubjoi't, he declined a com|>lianco with the directions of the 
I^^i.slattire, act^nnpanietl by the sugyrestion that some other 
A|^M)t than hintM.*lf nliould !« selected as the orpin of com- 
munication. The Ix*}^slature, without taking further action in 
the matter. adjoume<l to the ICth of August for the division of 
the State into conpnessional districta. 

I 4. Previous to the adjournment, however, an act was paned, 
authorizing the election of two ooramissionem in each of the 
wards i>f the city of New York. conMtitutinjj a Ikiard of 
Eilucation in that city, with authority to establish schools, 
and. in conjunction with the Public School .Siciety, to pro- 
vide the re<piiKite facilities for the instniction of the children 
therein. I'nder this act, several additional schools were orpan- 
ized, and two independent systems of public schools U'<r.> in 
operation. 

Sintr officrr*. — Finnnrial romliliun of ihc Suuc. — Stuprasion of pablic 
works. — State uix. — The Vir.:inin ronirorcmy. — Joint rcaoluikMi of \Jbc 
Lcgiftlature. — Miisy of the GoTcmor. 



ADMINISTRATION OF WILLIAM C. BOUCK. 253 

15. During the summer and fall of this year, William C. 
BoucK, of Schoharie, was renominated by the Democratic State 
Convention as a candidate for Governor, and Daniel S. Dick- 
inson, of Broome, for Lieutenant-Governor. Luther Bradish, 
of Franklin, received the Whig nomination for Governor, and 
Gabriel Furman, of New York, for Lieutenant-Governor. On 
the 4th of July the celebration of the completion of the 
Croton Aqueduct, for the sujDply of water to the city of New 
York, took place in that city with imposing ceremonies. 

1 6. The November elections resulted in the complete triumph 
of the Democratic party, by a majority of nearly twenty-two 
thousand for Colonel Bouck and Mr. Dickinson over the Whig 
candidates, and the return of a large Democratic majority in 
both branches of the Legislatm-e. Alvan Stewart, of Oneida, 
received about seven thousand votes as the candidate of the 
Abolitionists for Governor. 



CHAPTER VIIL 

Administration of William C. Bouck. — Geological Survey. — 
State Normal School. — Enlargement of the Erie Canal. — 
Anti-Rent Disturbances. 

1. Governor Bouck's first message, in January, 1843, 
took strong grounds in favor of the legislative interpre- 
tation of the principles involved in the Virginia controversy, 
and of the policy of a gradual resumption of the public works 
of internal improvement, including the Erie Canal enlargement. 
Lyman Sanford, of Schoharie, was appointed Adjutant-General ; 
Henry Storms, cf New York, Commissary-General ; and Edwin 
Croswell was reappointed State Printer. Silas Wright was, 
on the 7th of February, re-elected United States Senator for the 
ensuing six years. 

2. Several years previous the Governor had, by law, been 
directed to cause a geological survey of the State to be made, 
and the results of such survey, under the direction of eminent 

Election of Governor Bouck. — Governor's message. — Adjutant-General. 
— State Printer. — United States Senator. — Geological survey of the State. 



254 SEVEyni PERIOD. 

StAtA pcol(.i,'ist8 np|X)inte<l for thnt purpow, to bo puMUhcKl. 
During tlu- prx'cvdin^r RCSKion, the geolojjnstH, including I'rofesuors 
Beck, Jamjx Hall, uml 1 /Kit Kmmonh, of Albiuiy, liuil for- 

wunled flalKinitc rcjwrts of their prooeediiiga, in ton vohimea, 
accom]>aiiieil with Kuitablc ilhiHtrntions and engmviii^s, to the 
I. ,>hiturc ; ami three th«uiftand ctipies of each were onlered to 
be printe«l, and dei>*>hitc-«l with the Secretary of State for diutri 
bution to the State otlicerx and ineniliers of the LcpHhiturc. 

3. t'oKmel YoL'XO, Secretar)' of State, on the l.ith of Marcli 
of the preiM>nt year tranHDiitted a communication to the Sen 
ate, dechning tu carry out the provinions of this act, dccui 

it um*on8tituti(inal on the px>und that it had faded to receive 
the aaitent of two thinla of all the mendierB elected to e.i 1. 
House. He also comi: ' i. with f;;reat aMfierity, u|x)n similur 
violations of the (.'onMtttuliuu l>y tlie !x>^pslaturv in the creation 
of State stoi'ks and the ^n^nts of public money. *' Millions of 
outstanding • ." he ol»»kT>«l, "are now imjn - over thr 

State, which wi itcd l»v laws in clear and liircv't hohtilitv 

with the plain proVtMiuiis of the Constitution ; null and void in 
tli'ir iti< • ption, and ii :;; not even the shadow of a moral 

c>) •n for the fulhhitcnt of their ostensible demands." 

4. On the recopti<in of this communication an excited delmto 
sprung up, foUowcxl by the offer of several resolutions, declar 
aton* of the obliinitions of the State sacrcdlv to fulfil all its 
contracta, without • I to any techniad infonnidity in their 
inception. Lieutonani >«ovemor IMckinmox, in jjivinj; his cast 
mg vote on thc»ac reaolutions, reviewcnl with preat severity and 
ability the jiositions aamuned by the Soi*retary of State, and an 
anjjTk" newspa|ior c<" • ' was for some time kept up lietween 
thcHC two oftioers. i no > ' ir>\ however, durinp the continu- 
ance of his official term, stcadia.Htly maintaine<l his determination 
to decline a com ' o with the law. 

6. Mr. Calvi.n i. iiuLliiRn, of St, I^iwren**'. ♦ uuinuan of the 
Committee on rolleges. Academies, and Common Schools, sub- 
mitted to the Asaembly an able mp<»rt, recommending various 
improvements and miKlifiontions of the common-school system, 
in aooonlauoe with the sugj^estions of Superintendent Yoing in 

Comtnunicstion of Colonel Yotin;;. — ( ontrorenir hrtweco th« LiMlSBaDt- 
Govcmor and Secretary. — Kopurt on coaunoo tcfaooU. 



STATE NORMAL SCHOOL. 255 

his annual report, all of which, with the exception of one for the 
establishment of a State Normal School for the education of 
teachers, were, on the 16th of April, approved by the Legis- 
lature, and incorporated into the law ; after which the Legis- 
lature adjourned. 

6. During the spring of this year, the death of Smith Thomp- 
son, of the L^nited States Supreme Court, occurred at his resi- 
dence in Poughkeepsie, and suitable testimonials of his high 
character and eminent services, both to the State and Union, 
were offered. The Hon. Samuel Nelson, Chief-Justice of the 
Supreme Court of New York, was appointed by the President 
as his successor. The November elections resulted in a renewed 
triumph of the Democratic party in both branches of the Legis- 
lature. 

7. On the reassembling of the Legislature in January, 
1844, Governor Bouck stated the public debt of the State 

at $23,847,162, requiring an annual interest of $ 1,377,261. 
The revenue from the canals during the preceding year was 
about two millions of dollars. A cautious and economical pro- 
gress in the public works was recommended ; and a gratifying 
exhibit submitted of the prosperity and advancement of the 
common schools and other literary and charitable institutions 
of the State. Samuel Beardsley, of Oneida, was appointed a 
Judge of the Supreme Court, in the place of Esek Cowen, 
deceased. 

8. Mr. Hulburd, from the Committee on Colleges, Academies 
and Common Schools, on the 2 2d of March submitted a report 
recommending the establishment and organization of a State 
Normal School at Albany for the education and proper prepa- 
ration of teachers ; on the 7th of May thereafter, an act 
was passed in accordance with the report ; and on the 1st of 
June, the Superintendent of Common Schools, Samuel Young, 
Alonzo Potter, William H. Campbell, Gideon Hawley, 
and Francis Dwight, were appointed an Executive Committee, 



Amendments of the school-law. — Death of Juclge Thompson. — Appoint- 
ment of Chief-Justice Nelson as Judge of the United States Supreme Court. 
— Legislature of 1844. — Governor's message. — Public debt. — Canal rev- 
enues. — Common schools. — Judge of Supreme Court. — State Normal 
School. 



o.-ic SEVEyrn period. 

for the orpunization and inanagement of such Bchool. Davii« 
r. Page, of .Nfti.sHiic)ui(M.'tt«, wa« appoiiiUxl PrinciiMil, tuul tli<- 
school waji ojK»iKtl on the 18th of I)ei'enjl>cr. 

9. On the '2'M of April, Houatio Sky hour, of Onci^ll^ fn in 
the AsseniMy C'oniiuitteo on Caimlii lunl Intenml Inijirovnin nt.s. 
made an able re{iort, concluding with the intnxluotion of a bill 
niitltorizing and directing the Canul C'oniniiiMiionen* to |>rocee*i 
with the enlargement of the Erie Canal, to such extent an th» 
intcri'.stM of the State mi^ht rL><|uire, aiid tlio meaiiii at itn dia> 
IMMuil juMtify. Thin hill, after mature conMidcmtion, receivetl the 
luuiction of l>oth hmnrluti of the I^>giHhiture, and Itecame a law. 
A loan of nine hundretl thounaml dollarH wiut alH<^> authorized for 
the payment of canal damagOA, and the fultihiu'ut of contractA. 

10. Joint retwdutiona of lM>th Houhcm were fulopte<l, pnividing 
for Huch amondmentjt of the Conntitution aa alumld pn»vidi> thai 
no cx|KMuliture« for intenml improvementa, or other public pur- 
poses, shoidd thereafter lio made, without the appropriation of 
specific funda, by State tax or otherwiiie, for jKfraying their 
cost, and the aaiicnt of two-thinls of the memliept « ' 

each branch of the legislature ; to prohibit the removitl ol juUj 
cial " • f»»r caune ; for the aUilition of proj)orty 

qimlilitaiioith l«^i- any elective office ; and for the apfiointment of 
additional chancrllom and juntices of the Sui Court. An 

act waa alito {Muwed, n*»tricting tho numlter ot (anal Commin 
sioneni to four, and making them elective by the people. 

11. On the *J7th of May the national Democratic conven- 
tion at lialtimore placctl in nominatitm Jamrk K. Polk of 
Tenneaaec f«»r President, and (JfxmoE .M. Dallas of PennRvl 
Tania for Vice-President, IIiMir ClJiT of Kentucky an«l 
TuKoiM.iiK Frklincshuysex of New Jersey were the candiditcH 
of the Whig |»arty. I*resident Van Bi hkn'm refiuud to commit 
himself in favor of the annexation of Texas to the Cnite*! 
States was sup(x>sed to have prevente<l his renomination. James 
G. BiRXEY was the candiflate of tiic Abolitionists. 

12. During tho winter of this year, serious di»turl»anrcs h.id 
occmrcd in conseipience of the refusal of the tenants of the 
lat« patroon, Str- ^ Von Rensselaer, to fulfil the obligations 



EnUrprmcnt of the Kric Canal. — Proposed ammdmsnu of the Coasti- 
tniiun. — Nomination for Uie pretidency. 



ANTI-RENT DISTURBANCES. 257 

of their respective leases. In many instances the interference 
of the military became necessary for the enforcement of legal 
process for this purpose, and numerous outrages upon the 
officers of the laws were committed. In the counties of Albany, 
Rensselaer, Delaware, Columbia, and Greene, an organized re- 
sistance to these demands was made, and legal process was 
openly set at defiance. 

13. Independently, however, of those citizens who thus ar- 
rayed themselves in open opposition to the enforcement of the 
laws, a very large proportion of the residents on the Van Rens- 
selaer manor felt themselves seriously aggrieved by the de- 
mands of their present landlords, under the provisions of 
ancient leases, which for more than a century had been suffered 
to lie in abeyance, and the revival and enforcement of which, 
after so long a period, threatened them with inevitable ruin. 
They demanded legislative relief from this state of things, and 
carried their grievances to the polls. 

14. In addition to this political organization, whose increas- 
ing numbers gave to it a prominent influence, the Native- 
American party suddenly sprang into existence at about this 
period, and from a local importance, occasioned by the great 
influx of foreigners to the city of New York, and their weight 
in the election of city officers, soon diffused itself over the 
State and nation. Its political aim was the exclusion from 
public office of all persons of foreign birth. 

1.5. At the November elections, Silas Wright, of St. Law- 
rence, was elected Governor, and Addison Gardiner of Mon- 
roe, late Judge of the Eighth Circuit, Lieutenant-Governor, by a 
large majority, over Millard Fillmore of Erie and Samuel J. 
Wilkin of Orange, together with a decided Democratic ma- 
jority in both Houses of the Legislature. James K. Polk and 
George M. Dallas, after an animated and exciting political 
campaign, were elected President and Vice-President of the 
United States, by electoral majorities of sixty-five, over Henry 
Clay and Mr. Frelinghuysen. 

16. In consequence of the resignation of Senators Wright 

Anti-Rent disturbances — Anti-Rent and Native-American parties. — 
Election of Silas Wright as Governor, and Addison Gardiner, Lieutenant- 
Governor- — Presidential election. 
17 



258 Si:VK.\TII PEIUOD. 

and Tallmaikje, Governor Bouck, in Deoeml)er, appointotl 
Hbkrt a. Fostkr of Oneida, and Lieutenants Joveniur Damrl 
S. Dickinson', of Broome, aa I'nited State* Seimtorn, for the 
unexpired temw resiiectively. The pn^poued amendmenta to 
the Constitution in refereneo to the proitocution of the puUic 
wurkH, and the fuiancea of the State, and other objects, Imving 
receive*! tlie approval of a nmj«»ritv of the people at the recent 
election, were again remitted to tho ciuiunig Legiidaturo for 
final adoption. 



C H A P T K K IX. 

Au»ii!»MTMATn>!« or Sila» Wkh.mt — Intk«?<ai. l»irn<»ri:»ir.xT«. — 

C'a>M. K?«l.*U«l.i»l.>iT. — C«nm«i> S< IKMILA. — AxTI-Kl.ST OfT- 

KA<<i^. — ra«M i-AHATioji or Maktiai. I. aw. — Tkial a?ii> Cojitic- 
TioK or TiiK Ih»l-roi;}it Lkaukms. — Kaii.hoai>» AUb Maukktio- 

Ti: LEO HA I'll WlKKH. 

1. At tho niertin;; of the Ix»iH'^!:ituro in January, 1845, 
(iovenior Wni»iiiT peoonn da eiendy adherence to 
the lepHlntivo |K»licy of 1842, in reference to the prose- 
cution of the pubho w<»rkK, and the incor{joration of that jiolicy 
as a permanent |«ftrt of the State (Vnntitution. After prcHenting 
a clear exhibit of the financial condition of tlic State, and itM vari- 
ouii literary and charitable inHtitutiona, he thuM advertH K{M>cwtlly 
to the funds set apart for the licnefit of the common kcIiooU : — 

2. " Few if any inntancea are u|K»n reconl," ho obaenrea, 
'* in which a fund of this dencription haa Imm-u atlminiNterod and 
ita ))ountiea dia{tcnrM^l, thi\>u;:h a peritnl of forty ymm, with ao 
few auapiciona, acciiaationa, or complainta of the interference of 
either political or reli^oua biaaea to diaturb the e<)ual iNilance by 
which ita iK-nefita Hhould Iw cxtcndcil to our whole {>opulatiou. 
Tliia 8h<»ul<l continue aa it haa l>ecn. 

3. *M)iir 8chtx>l fund ia not inatituted to make our children 
and youth either jmrtiaana in |x»htica or aoctariana in rebpon, 
but to jfive them e<lucntion, int- e, aound principlea, good 
moral habita, and a free and indefHMjdont apirit ; in abort, to 

.Ai.i..:tifm<.fftii of T*n>'<»f <:i.if-^ ^natorv. — Prr>fm«al for amandin^*"' •" 
thr ,,n. — (, AiaMMge. — rroieeatkm of ibe i 

Works. — ('oiii;i. •i •• !. >oU. 



ANTI-RENT OUTRAGES. 259 

make them American freemen and American citizens, and to 
qualify them to judge and choose for themselves in matters of 
politics, religion, and government. 

4. " Such an administration of the fund as shall be calculated 
to render this qualification the most perfect for the mature 
minds, with the fewest influences tending to bias the judgment 
or incline the choice, will be the most consonant with our duties 
and with the best interests of our constituents. Under such an 
administration, education will flourish most, and the peace and 
harmony of society be best preserved. 

5. "No public fund of the State is so unpretending, yet so 
all-pervading ; so little seen, yet so universally felt ; so mild in 
its exactions, yet so bountiful in its benefits ; so little feared or 
courted, and yet so powerful, as this fund for the support of 
common schools. The other funds act upon the secular inter- 
ests of society, its business, its pleasures, its pride, its passions, 
its vices, its misfortunes. This acts upon its mind and its 
morals. 

6. " Education is to free institutions what bread is to human 
life, — the staff of their existence. The office of this fund is to 
open and warm the soil, and sow the seed which the element of 
freedom must grow and ripen into maturity ; and the health or 
sickliness of the growth will measure the extent and security of 
our liberties. The thankfulness we owe to those who have gone 
before us for the institution of this fund, for its constitutional 
protection, and for its safe and prudent administration hitherto, 
we can best repay by imitating their example, and improving 
upon their work as the increased means placed in our hands 
shall give us ability." 

7. The Governor informed the Legislature that resistance to 
the law and its officers in the anti-rent districts had been re- 
newed, in forms and under circumstances of the deepest aggra- 
vation ; and that organized bands of men, disguised as savages, 
with arms in their hands, had bidden defiance to the law, its 
process, and its officers, and in repeated instances rendered its 
mandates unavailing, while in some cases the lives of unoffend- 
ing citizens had been taken. 

Common-School Fund. — Anti-rent outrages. 



2G0 SEVFyril PElilOD. 

8. "While the question lietween the proprictom and the 
tenantV he olmcrvcs, " wiib whether the lcAft< h(>l<l tenures 
should l>e |)er|>otuatotl, or the rentu lihould be oonuntite<i upon 
fair uud reoa^muhle terms, and fee u uin)n the 
payment of a capital in money, which. in\ it n stipuhited 
rate, would n'pnxluce the rent* to the hindloni, the controversy 
wuN one in which the feehn;:* and' .thies of our people 
were deeply enlisted, and stron^^ly mclunng iu favor of the 
tenants. 

9. "Then the question wu not whether rights of property 
are to be trampled uiMm, the t- > of contracts violently 
reeuitcil, the lawH of tlu* State Ki't at detiaiice, the [lettoe of h 
dJifturUil. and hunuui lifo Harriticc>d : but in what way ooutnicts 
onerous in their ' dm and t ^, iu their nature and char- 
acter unoongeoial with the habitu ami < as of oiu* people, 
oould lio peaceably and justly and oinsiituitouaily modified to 
moot the changed circumstanix^s of the timeiL 

10. "Then 1 nii^'ht have invititl yourcait'ful attention to the 
oonsidemtions ^txiwinf? out of thcao ionies; but I fivl precludrd 
fn>m dismiHsions of this < 'er by the extra^apuit and inde- 
fensible )ioinition ^ven to the controversy by the unliiwftd and 
violent procotHlmj^n of those wh nw the rl 'f the ' 

and inte^e^ts of the ' '5 invulvi<d in thin littinttion.*' \\k* 

aooortiingly reoomnuMidcil tiie enortinont of str t (lenal laws 

ftir the prevention and puniHhnu*nt of all outra^^suf this nature, 
which was pn>niptly coniplieii with by the Ixi|^slaturc at on oarly 
j>erii«l of the Si'^tMiun. 

11. On the first Tuemlay in Februari-, Azariah C. Fi.Ano was 
reapjiointed <.'omptn»llor ; Natiiamkl S. Uin<Tox, of Herkimer, 
ap|Miinti-<i S'cretary of State and Superintendent of C'onunon 
Scliools, in place of Colonel Younj; ; and Joiix Van* Blrkn, of 
Allmny, Attonicy-ficncral, in phioe of Mr. lUirker. CiRSlUfl C 
IV s. of (hieido, was n fJiiKticc of the Su- 
prvute Court, On the 25th ol i dtruury, iJeneral Joiix A. Dix 
was choeeu I'nited States Senator, to fill the unexpired term 
of Govcnior W.uoht. and Lieutenant-Governor Damkl S. Dick- 
inson for the residue of the term of Seuator Tallmadge and 



Stale oAoen. — United Stales sesalori. 



NEW CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION. 261 

for the full term succeeding. Governor Margy was soon after- 
wards appointed, by the President, Secretary of War of the 
United States. 

12. The various constitutional amendments proposed hy the 
last Legislature and ratified by the popular vote, with the ex- 
cej)tion of those providing for the abolition of property qualifi- 
cations for elective officers and prohibiting the removal of 
judicial officers without just cause, failed to secure the requisite 
constitutional majorities in both Houses. A ])ill was accord- 
ingly, on the 13th of March, introduced in the Assembly by 
Mr. Grain, of Herkimer, providing for the call of a State Gon- 
VENTiON for the formation of a new Gonstitution, which, after a 
series of animated discussions and debates in both Houses, 
finally became a law, subject to the approval of the people at 
the ensuing election. 

13. At a late period in the session, an act was passed in both 
Houses appropriating one hundred and ninety-seven thousand 
dollars from the revenues of the canals for the completion of 
such portions of the enlarged Erie, Black River, and Genesee 
Valley Ganals, and such repairs to other public works as may be 
required by the interests of the State. This bill encountered a 
veto from Governor Wright, chiefly npon the ground of the in- 
compatibility of some of its details with the legislative policy 
of the act of 1842, which had received the sanction of the 
popular vote, and failed to obtain the requisite constitutional 
majority. 

14. Notwithstanding the severe penalties of the act recently 
passed for the prevention of anti-rent outrages, great excitement 
and alarm still prevailed in the manor counties. In Golumbia, 
during the summer of this year, several outrages were commit- 
ted by members of the Anti-Rent associations disguised as In- 
dians. Gne of the most active agents, Dr. Boughton, was 
arrested, tried, convicted, and imprisoned. In Delaware and 
Schoharie, frequent sanguinary riots took place ; and in August, 
Mr. Steel, a deputy-sheriff", while in the discharge of his official 

Constitutional amendments. — Bill for a State Constitutional Convention. 
— Act in relation to the canals. — Governor's veto. — Further anti-rent out- 
rages. — Imprisonment of Dr. Boughton. — Murder of Deputy- Sheriff 
Steel. 



2C2 SEiEyrn period. 

duties, was attacked by an armed party and inhumanly mur- 
dered. 

15. So numerous and during were the acta of lawless vi- 
perj)etnitetl by these men in l>eluwaro County, that appliaitiun 
was made to <iovemor NN iiuiiiT to declare the county in a stiite 
of iiiKurrcction. A Hpiritcnl proclunmtion was inuneiliately issued 
hv the Ciovenjor, connnamiuij^ the r«»>»tnmtion of order undtT 
severe |>enaltiea, and onlcrinif out a iit militar}* force for 

the protection of the inh . " -. A -}h il irt of oyer and 

tenuiner wnM convened by Judin^ Am aha J. I'.ikkkr, several con- 
victions ol I by Alton uond Va.v IUiiex, includi! - 
two of a capitid imture, the punishment for which was com- 
muted by the <J«»vemor to impristniment for life. 

IG. In IkvcmU'r, official inftmnution of the suppranion of 
tho insurrection was receive<l, and the proclamation of martini 
law bv ilio Oovenior revoked. The abilitv and Hnnncss with 
whirh the executive duties were |ierformc<l at this alarming and 
difficult crisis command(*<l the irenernl approliation and admi- 
ration of the iKiiplf o( the St The fall fl- % in tho 
mean time, luul n*sulted in the usual I>i'm<H-rattc nmjorities in 
lioth branches of the I^^-pslnture. and the approvid of the call 
for a State C<»nstituti<»nal ('<»nv. . by a majority of upwards 
of one hunilrc*! and y thousand vutca. 

17. From the |)eno<i of the construction of the .Alliany and 
Schenectady Kailruad, in 1830, which was tho pioneer of this 
groat system in New York, and the inception, aidi"<l by the 
crwlit of the State, of the New Y<»rk and Krie Ilailmad at a 
later perittd, numerous acts of the I^c^slaturo authorizing^ the 
oonstniction of these roads by incorjtorated conifmnics were 
pMMd, and in every section of the State wholly or {tartially car- 
ried into effect. Tho Allianv and Sohonectiwlv road was com- 
plete<l to I'tica, where it was »ix>n intersecte*! by another con- 
necting with the New York and Krie Itoad, and completing the 
connection Iwtwecn New York, nutfalo, and Iske Vlric, an<l the 
facilities of rapid communication between these points was in- 

TnMirr.f-tJon in P " i~ • — Proclainiitton of the Goreraor. — 

Martial !«» — Triui i... . ........ ..f the A**- '• • • '•■•—- — «:...>. 

of the ini«urrvcti«>n. — Result of tho Notci 
ttttioosl ConrcQliun approved. — Kailruad^ 



RAILROADS AND TELEGRAPH. 263 

creased by the construction of the Hudson River and Harlem 
Railroads between New York and Albany. 

18. During the present and succeeding years these facilities 
were immeasurably increased by the opening of magnetic-tele- 
graph lines from Washington, through Philadelphia, New York, 
and Albany, to Boston, through the energy and genius of Profes- 
sor Morse and Henry 0. Rielly ; and other similar lines followed 
in quick succession, opening instantaneous communication be- 
tween the principal towns and cities of the State and Union. 



CHAPTER X. 

Administration of Governor Wright. — State Constitutional 
Convention. — Constitution or 1846. — Free Schools. 

1. Governor Wright, in his messao-e to the Legisla- 
ture of 1846, after recapitulating the incidents connected 
■with the recent Anti-Rent outbreaks, and the suppression of the 
insurrectionary movements in the manor counties, recommended 
the abolition of the process of distress for rents hereafter to 
accrue, the taxation of the landlords' rents as income, and the 
restriction of all leases hereafter to be executed to a period of 
five or ten years. The State debt was estimated at $ 16,644,815, 
and the revenues from the canals during the preceding year at 
about two and a half millions of dollars. 

2. The annual report of the Superintendent of Common 
Schools showed an increase of the number of school districts in 
the State to upwards of eleven thousand, in which were taught 
seven hundred and thirty-six thousand pupils, at an expense of 
upwards of one million of dollars, nearly half of which was con- 
tributed by rate-bill. Ninety-five thousand dollars had been 
expended in the purchase of school-district libraries, which 
numbered upwards of one million volumes. Acts were passed 
abolishing distress for rent and facilitating the legal remedies 
by re-entry on lands for its non-payment. 



Magnetic telegraph. — Legislature of 1846. — Governor's message. — 
Anti-rent excitement. — State debt, — Canal revenues. — Report of Super- 
intendent of Common Schools. — District libraries. — Distress for rent. 



204 SEVEyni prnrnn. 

3. On the finit day of June the State Constitution' al Cos- 
VEfTloX, the inemlH.T« of which luui been clccttil in April, 
ASBcmblcd at AUmny, and orpuiizoil by the election of ex- 
Lieiiteiuint Governor John Tracy, of Chenango, as PreHidcnt, 
and Francis Staruick, of Jefferson, Hknrv W. Stiujno, of 
KcnjiJii'laer, and Kr.\ncI8 Sbuer, of Lewis, aa Becretariea. A 
committee of scventn-n wiia ap|ioiutetl f«»r the distributiou of 
the bu«ini>88 of the IVmventiun, who, on the sucoeedint; day, 
presented a n-port, which wan adopted, and the teveiul cora- 
miltet^Ji charj?e<l with the conKitlerution of the various suljccts 
prescnlitl for » apj»«»intttl. 

4. No nwtfrial altcnition of Uio exiHtiuj^ provisions of the 
Constitution of \^'2\ was made in tlie orj^ainzntion of the Ex- 
ecutive UcjKirtmont, In the Ix^Mslati%'c iKimrtinent, the only 
essential chanj;c was made in the rv\ u of the election of 
senators for a |n'rit»«l of two ywirs by . iiatoriid districts, 
an<l of niemU'rs of the !>»wer House by sin^lo A- • "*'ly districts 
in the several c<)unties of the State. The |>ower of mii»«a. hmcnt 
of public officers was rested in the Assembly, and the Senate 
and jiul^'os of the Court of Apfteals. presnled over by the Lieu- 
tenant -(Hjvem<»r, constituted the tribunal for the trial of such 
impeachments. 

6. Ki;,'hi juilicial districts were direotod to l)e • rutcd, in 

esch of which fi»ur judp?8 of the Supreme Court, vt-hteti with 
Icfcpvl and t 'lo jjowers, were to be . '. with such addi- 

tional numlter \n the district com|KJ8C<l of the city of New York 
U iU |)oi>ulation mii;ht from time to time require. Tliese 
judv^i's were re<iuire<l to l>e clamifieil, so tliat the terms of each 
sluMild expire once in every eight years, after the first cbssifi- 
cation. A Court of Apiieals was orvnniied, to lie coujposed of 
eijrht ju<l>,'es, four to be elected by the piH)ple of the entire State 
for the term of ei^rht years, and the remaining four to Ix? BelecUni 
fnmi the ckss of justices of the Stiprenie Court having the 
shortest time to wrve. Provision was made for the election of 
one of those justices everj* second year, an<l for the ap|w»intment 
of a Chief-Justice from their number, and presiding judges at 
the general terms, in the several District Courts, and also for 

Coostitationjd Convntion. — Oi^sanuBtkm oT tlM KMcative. — Ugis- 

Istive and Judicial Depaitmenu. 



CONSTRUCTION OF THE COURTS. 265 

the establishment of circuit courts and courts of oyer and ter- 
miner in the several counties. 

6. Justices of the Supreme Court and judges of the Court 
of Appeal were made removable by concurrent resolution of 
both Houses of the Legislature, two thirds of all the mem- 
bers elected to the Assembly and a majority of the Senate 
concurring. All other judicial officers, except Justices of the 
Peace and judges or justices of inferior courts not of record, 
were made removable for cause to be stated, by the Senate on 
the recommendation of the Governor, after a full opportunity 
for defence. In case of any vacancy in the office of judge, the 
Governor was authorized to supply such vacancy by appoint- 
ment until the next ensuinor election. 

7. A county judge was required to be elected once in four 
years, in each of the counties of the State except New York, 
for the holding of county courts, and, with two Justices of 
the Peace, of Courts of Sessions, and the performance of the 
duties of Surrogate, when the population of the county was less 
than forty thousand. Justices of the Peace were made elective 
by the people of the several towns for a term of four years each. 
Tribunals of Conciliation w^ere authorized for the voluntary 
settlement of litigated cases, and provision was made for the 
appointment of commissioners for the revision of practice and 
pleading in the several courts of the State, subject to the 
approval of the legislatures. Sheriffs, county clerks, district- 
attornevs, and coroners were to be elected in the several counties 
for a term of three years respectively. 

8. The Comptroller, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Attorney- 
General, State Engineer, and Surveyor were required to be cho- 
sen by the electors of the State at the general election, once in 
everv two years. Three Canal Commissioners and three In- 
spectors of State Prisons were to be also elected in the same 
manner, one of their number to be annually chosen for the 
term of three years. The Lieutenant-Governor, Secretary of 
State, Comptroller, Treasurer, Attorney-General, Speaker of the 
Assembly, and State Engineer and Surveyor were constituted 



Removal of justices of tlie Supreme Court. — County judges. — Justices 
of the Peace. — Tribunals of conciliation. — Revision of practice and plead- 
ings. — County officers. — State officers. 



2(JG SEVJCyr/I PERIOD. 

Commissioners of tho Land Utilcc ; the four first niunod of these 
officers CoinmisHioncra of tho Canal Fund, and, in conjunction 
with tlie Cuniil Conunissioncm and Stati; Kiiginevr and Survo^'ur, 
the C'juial Ituiird. 

y. After dffrayinj; the expenses of collection, suiierintendenoe, 
and ordinary rejHiim, the ttuni of one million three hundred 
thousand dullarH wiui nH|uired to lie annually set aptvrt until 
tho fintt day of June, isrir), and fn>ni that date one million 
seven hundrttl tliuuiuuid dollam annually, from the rcvenue« of 
tho State cunalx, as a sinking fund for the |iaymcnt of the in- 
terest and reilemption of the princi{itd of the canal dcht ; and 
A further anniml sum of three hundred and Hf\y thouKund 
dollars from the Murplus revenues of such canals, untd a Kuf- 
iicient sum had hoen provided to pay the whole of such principal 
and intervnt. 

10. On the completion of such payment, the sum of one and 
a half millions of dolUirs was re<|uire«l to he anniuilly set apart 
as a sinkuig fund for the |Hiyment <if the intere«t and redemp- 
tion of tho princi|«al of the p.»neral fund debt, includin); tho 
amount due on lotuis of the State cre<!it to railnvid com|»nni«-. 
untd the same should l»e wholly |Miid ; after which, and utt< r 
defmying all expeniies of suficrintendence and re|iair of the 
canals, such sum. not cxccedin}; two hundro<l thousand dollant, 
to lie annually appn^)iriated from their surplus revenues to 
the uw? and Itenefit of the f^cnend fund, as sliould be re<iuired 
to defray the neceHnar\' exfionseM of tho State. 

1 1. The remaincler of the cnnal revenues, after mectinR the«/> 
rarious appntpriations, was authorixe<l to \yo n|>*>^^'-<l. in suiii 
maimer as the liC^jiHlature hIiouUI direct, to the i .....; ^t-ment of 
the Krio Canal, ami the completion c»f tinj Black Kiver an<l 
Genenee Valley Canals. Various other proviHions were mxuie for 
the occurrence of future dertoiencics in the fund* of tho State, 
for the payment of its ohiipitions, and the Kupport of the 
government. All appropriations of money were requiretl to l»o 
speciBcally stated in the acts for their provi«iun ; and tho crt^lit 

ComniUikiooen of ibc I^nJ Office and Canal Fund. — Canal DoartL — I'ru 
Tiaion for the pi« uriatiooa to general fund. 

— Erie Canal « ^ ^ .i-n«ee V-"-»- '^^nab. — 

Proritioas for U<. .u buic funds. — Apprupnaiioi.^ mooey. 



THE CONSTITUTION OF 182U 267 

of the State forbidden to be loaned to or in aid of any indi- 
vidual, association, or corporation. 

12. No debt was thereafter to be contracted by or on behalf 
of the State, unless authorized by a law for some single speci- 
fied work or object, and unless provision at the same time were 
made for the imposition and collection of an annual State tax for 
the payment of the accruing interest, and the extinguishment 
of the principal of said debt within eighteen years thereafter ; 
nor could such law take effect until it should have been sub- 
mitted to the people of the State at a general election, and have 
received the approval of a majority of all the votes cast at said 
election for or against it. Such law, after such approval, might 
be at any time repealed, or its operation suspended, by the 
Legislature, with the exception of the provision therein made 
for the collection of a tax to defray any expenditures in- 
curred. 

13. No such law was allowed to be submitted to the people 
within three months after its passage, or at any election, when 
any other bill or any proposition for the amendment of the Con- 
stitution should have been so submitted. On the final passage 
of any bill imposing, continuing, or reviving a tax, creating a 
debt or charge, or making, continuing, or reviving any appropri- 
ation of public money, or discharge of any claim or demand of 
the State, three fifths of all the members elected to each House 
were required to constitute a quorum, and the ayes and noes to 
be taken and recorded on such bill. 

14. Corporations, including banking and other associations, 
were authorized to be formed under general laws, and special acts 
for this purpose were prohibited, except for municipal purposes 
and in cases where, in the judgment of the Legislature, the 
object of such corporations cannot be attained under general 
laws. Suspension of specie payments by any such corporation 
or association was prohibited to be sanctioned or in any man- 
ner allowed by the Legislature ; all bills or notes put in. circu- 
lation as money were required to be registered, and ample se- 

Loans to individuals, associations, or corporations. — Restrictions on the 
contraction of State debts. — Corporations to be formed under general laws. 
— Restrictions on banking associations. — Registry and redemption of 
bank-notes. 



2G8 SKn-SMfl PERIOD. 

ciirity for their redemption in Bjjccic funuHhod to th** '^^^^o, and 
8tockholder« made individually re«ix»nHil»le for any li. :icy. 

15. Thf caipitaUof thorommon-Schotil, Liteniturt% and I'nitetl 
StatCM Dejiohit FuiuU, were resjjfctively to be preaerve*! inviolate, 
and their revenues applied exclunively to the pur|KJ6f« of theircrea- 
tion. The »um of twenty-five thttumuid dollant waa directeil to Ik* 
annually applied from the revenue« of the I'nited State* l)c|K.sit 
Fund to the incntuie of the ciu.it.d of the (.'onmion-Sehuol Fund. 

IG. The Ixnfinlature waa a d tc» pn»viile fur the or^niai 

tion of eitie« and ine«»rporutctl villri-rrs, and so to reutrict their 
|>oweni of taxatitm, aam^Minient, I mjj money, oontrueiin^' 

debta, and Ktanin^ their ennlit, a« to pn-vcnt ahuaea in »uch a« 
■OSHinent, e«>ntmetA, and loaiiH. 

17. Provihion* wem tTiade for future amendmenUi to the Con 
itituti'-n hv the Ixv rr. with the appr> u of the pc«i . 
at el i*nd «»r f; i also ft>r the rnllitv/ «»f u 
Stato Con. II f«ir that pur|MMie at the g< ■ .li 
18GG, and in eueh twentieth year thereaft«'r. 

18. During the bcitoion f»f thia Con\ \ the first nio%*e 
inent waa mndeforthe e-^; ;in«'nt of Fi. iitH»i*s thn»u;.li 
out the St With the . . of the city of New York. 
the sevenU common h MUM»<»rt*'d in great part hy 
Io(*al taxation and the {laynient (tf i.. > for tcachem* wage«, 
after deducting the •than> of public money apfiortioned to ca< li. 
amounttn;; to c< Iv le^ than half the nniount annuuily 
requii«ii. In the ^ 1 poorest K» ^, where e«hiai- 
tion waA n)«»Mt ! !. the cuutributiona from tlic State fund 
Were the nuwii n. 

19. On tiio l.^th of June, Mr. HMiiKitT CvMriiEJ.^ of Otaego, 
offered a resolution in the convention inquiring? into the pro- 
priety of a coUHtitutional prr»vi«ion for the c»t .ment of 
such a svHtem of common > h as would enable every chll 
in the State to Hecure the lienefita of a gixxl education. 1"; 
resolution, with a memorial on the name aubject from the Stat. 
Convention of county au{icrintendcntH, waa referred to the F^iu< a- 
tional Committee. 

" ^ • <ol, !/• : Ti •• r ,,4g — jnr- 'on of 

ca:iiLlikhiucnt uf tree icUwU. 



ADOPTION OF THE NEW CONSTITUTION. 269 

20. On the 22d of July, Mr. Nicoll, of New York, Chairman 
of that Committee, reported to the Convention a series of reso- 
lutions declaring the inviolability of the Common-School, Litera- 
ture, and United States Deposit Funds, and providing for the 
establishment by the Legislature of a system of free schools for 
the education of every child between the ages of four and sixteen 
years, whose parents were^residents of the State. 

21. On the 8th of October, the day preceding the final ad- 
journment of the Convention, this provision was adopted as a 
part of the Constitution, by a close vote of 57 to 53, and with 
the remainder of the resolution ordered to be engrossed as such. 
After a temporary recess, on the reassembling of the Convention 
in the afternoon, the portion of the resolution providing for 
the establishment of free schools was, on the motion of Mr. 
Arphaxed Loomis, of Herkimer, stricken out, and the residue 
of the article only retained. 

22. The November elections resulted in the election of John- 
Young, of Livingston, the Whig candidate for Governor, by a 
majority of upwards of eleven thousand votes over Governor 
Wright, and the re-election of Addison Gardiner, of Monroe, 
the Democratic candidate, for Lieutenant-Governor, over Hamil- 
ton Fish, of New York, by thirteen thousand majorit}^ The 
majority in favor of the adoption of the new Constitution was 
about 130,000. 

23. On the 24th of December of this year, General Erastus 
Root, of Delaware, died in the city of New York, whither he 
had gone on a visit. For nearly half a century he had taken an 
active part in public life, and had occupied at different times 
many prominent positions in the State and national govern- 
ments. As a member and presiding officer of both branches of 
the State Legislature during a long period, as Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor of the State, and member of the House of Representatives 
of the United States, he was distinguished for ability in de- 
bate, inflexible honesty, and gi-eat executive and administrative 
power. 



Election of John Youno: as Governor and Addison Gardiner as Lieu- 
tenant-Governor. — Adoption of the new Constitution. — Death of Erastus 
Root. 




\ 



t 6 



r E p 



^ v_. -y-T* 



&Ut« lUU At AlbftDj. 

EIGHTH rKKIOIX 

FROM THE COXSTirrT/0.\ ui io^O TO THE PRES- 

EST TIME. 



1»4 



CIIAPTKU I. 
Admixmtratio^ nr Jonx Yori»o. — MrxiCA^r War. — Gevcral Pae- 

DOJt or AmTI KOT rRI»0!(LHB. — I>K.ATU Ot GoVERJIOR WuiGIIT. 

1. Si iisFgrEXTi.T to the annoxat;'>n »if Texas as one of the 
StfttcM of the rnion, the ^; ins committod on the 

conimorrc of the I'nited St *. - liy Mexico, and the r»'f'!Hal 
or neglect of her povoniment t- ^e a(it^|uate conif' u 

ft»r the injuries therohy siiffcrctl hy our citizenA. tivt'ther with 
the display of n military- force on the Kio (Jmnde, Uni to the de- 
clamtion of war n;raiiist that nation. During; the past year, 
active prcparatiuus for hostiUtica had been commenced in every 



PEACE WITH MEXICO. 271 

section of the Union, and an appropriation of the necessary 
funds made by Congress for its eihcient prosecution. The vic- 
tories of Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterey, and Buena 
Vista, had been gained by Major-Generals Taylor and John E. 
Wool. Major-General Scott was marching upon the capital, 
with the gallant General Worth and his brave compatriots, 
and New Mexico and California had been conquered by General 
Kearney and Captain John C. Fremont. 

2. President Polli, during the session of Congress of 1846, 
had requested an additional appropriation of two millions of 
dollars for the negotiation of a peace between the two nations, 
based upon the cession by Mexico of California, in discharge of 
the demands of our government. As a condition of this grant, 
Mr. David Wilmot, of Pennsylvania, proposed a resolution, that, 
in the territory so to be purchased, neither slavery nor involun- 
tary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, should be per- 
mitted to exist. 

3. Early in the session of 1847 this proviso was renewed by 
Preston King, of St. Lawrence, one of the representatives from 
New York, fortified by a joint resolution of both Houses of the 
Legislature of that State, passed by a nearly unanimous vote. 
An appropriation of three millions of dollars was, however, made 
by Congi'ess, without the incorporation of this clause, notwith- 
standing the vote of the New York delegation in the House of 
Representatives, with one exception, and Senator Dix, in its favor. 

4. Governor Young, in his annual message to the Legislature, 
reviewed the general condition of the State in its various depart- 
ments, and, among other things, recommended the adoption of 
early measures to carry into effect the provisions of the new 
Constitution for the appointment of commissioners to reform, 
simplify, and abridge the rules and practice, pleadings, forms, 
and proceedings of the several Courts of Record in the State. 
He also earnestly urged the requisite appropriations for the com- 
pletion of the Erie Canal enlargement and the construction of 
the Genesee Vallev and Black River Canals. 

5. Soon afterwards a proclamation was issued by him recapitu- 

The Mexican War. — Brilliant campaigns of Generals Taylor and Scott. 
— Negotiations for peace. — The Wilmot Proviso. — Proceedings of the 
Legislature. 



272 Fir.IITII PFRIOD. 

Intinp the ori^n and pn _!• -s of the Anti-Rent controversy : and 
grantui;; n full jwrilon to the prisoners convicte<l in ( ohirohia 
and I)fluwnro Counties, two of whom hzid Ix'en »eutonceti to 
death, ami their punishment l>een ci»mmuto<l hy the lato (lover- 
nor to imprittitnment fur life. Thi» proclunuit ion was baaed 
chiefly upon the (ground tliut the • h for which the puniuli- 

nientJt were i: i were {xihtiaU <•;! ii <h; and the occasion 

und excitement att< their commishiun having imuumhI over, 

puhUc |)olicy no lon;;i'r deiiumdiil a continuance of the )>enalty. 
Fiftv-four penionA. inchidin;; tho.sc ai cunvictwl, were ih^ 

ci. pnx'hiination. 

6. On the 7th of May an act was passed authorizing the es- 
UUi«hn»ent of a Frkk Academy in the city of New York, wiih 
the c»>ucurrenco of a i ly of the lejral vt»terB in luiid city, 
which was at once pnn-untl, und the my wiis • 1 
durin)^ the ii • year under the pr^ -y of I)r. Hnu\' : 
Wkii^tkr. I'ndcr tl»e proviMons of an act ]• i— . 1 durinj^ tl»o 
precc*ling year, U for the i; :> t»f Indian children 
were orj^uniat^tl on the Oni-; l niluniumin, Allt%:hany, and 
St. lU^is i is were aUtj iiuthorized to be 
e^' 1 m liie pr <* towns, for the 
separate mstruclioii of < iren, m whirli uUmt fi\r 
thousand of this cUias of « ti were pithered, — the rvy>\ 
due Ijcini; it '"<l in the - tri«t schools of t 
St On the 7ih <»f June an act w -<ttl providin;^ fur 
the \m\ n of the puhlic wurlvs. 

7. In the mciin time the utroni; ftirtress of San Junn dTllwi 
at Vera Cnii had Ikvu capturcHl by the furces under (leneml 
Scott, and CJener.d Worth appointed Military' (Jovenior ; ^ 
Mexinin fortresses of Chihuahua, Corro (ionlo, Jolapo, and IV 
rote, the city of Puehla, the vilbi;re <>f ChenihuMco, the fortit; 1 
cam|i6 at National Hrid^'e, Contrems, San Ant<»nio, Mulino Ikl 
Rev, and the castle <»f Chapnlte|)ec, captunnl ; and on the 14th 
of 8cpteml»er the city of Mexico was entrn"*! by the An: 
troops, und the war 8o<m after torminatc<l by the cession ol V. uli- 

Tanlon lo th« A • »* — ' mcnrr. — 

New Ytirk Frws Acailfiny. — I 

the public work*. — Termination of the Mi\u.in War. — Ccmiud of CsJ« 

fumis. 



DEATH OF SILAS WRIGHT. 273 

fornia for the sum of fifteen millions of dollars. The part taken 
in all these victorious conflicts by the officers and troops of the 
State of New York was eminently creditable to the bravery and 
valor of its citizens. 

8. On the 27th of August, Governor Wright suddenly expired 
from disease of the heart, at his residence in Canton, St. Law- 
rence County. Since his retirement from the Executive Depart- 
ment he had devoted himself to agricultural pursuits, and had 
just completed an address to be delivered before the State Agri- 
cultural Society, at Saratoga Springs, in September, which was 
read on that occasion by his friend. General Dix. The highest 
honors were paid to his memory by the various municipal au- 
thorities, and a special message communicated to the Legislature 
at its September session by Governor Young, followed by reso- 
lutions of the two Houses expressive of their sorrow for his loss. 
Similar honors were paid by various State legislatures through- 
out the Union. 

9. Few abler or more gifted statesmen have graced the coun- 
cils of the State and nation than Silas Wright. His strict and 
unwavering integrity, his clear comprehension of the various 
important questions upon which he was from time to time re- 
quired to pass, his marked simplicity of character and deport- 
ment, and his superior qualifications as a political leader, made 
a profound impression upon the public mind, and endeared his 
memory to the hearts of his countrymen. 

10. As a leading member of the State Senate, State Comp- 
troller, United States Senator, and Governor, he was eminently 
distinguished for intellectual ability, uncompromising integrity, 
great suavity of manners, and a persuasive and convincing elo- 
quence. Although he had repeatedly and firmly declined the 
nominations to the two highest offices of the national govern- 
ment, no statesman in the Union, at the period of his death, 
occupied a more prominent position in the public view, or pos- 
sessed a larger share of the public confidence. 

11. At the November election the Whig party again car- 
ried the State by a large majority. Lieutenant-Governor Gardi- 
ner having resigned his position for a seat on the bench of the 



Death of Silas Wright. — Public honors to his memory — His character. 
18 



274 EIGIITU rrnrnn. 

Court of Appeals, Hamilton Fish, of New York, waa choncn in 
his phico; Christopher Mi»iu;AX, of Cnvupi, wjis electea 
Sccretiirv of Stiite onil SuiMTintondcnt of Coiimum Stlu»ola ; 
Mii.uvRD FiiXM(»RK, of l->ie, CoiiiptniUcr ; and Amiiuosf. L Joi 
DAS, of Colunilua, Atton»ey-litMienU. Aui>i>«>s (Iariuxkr of 
M«nm>e, CIujxne < '*s of OntMtlJ^ Fiu:eik)RN H. Jewett 

of f>nomln«ni, and Chaiuj> H. Itn.tiLi?* of DuUhcss, wcro 
jL»s of the Court of Apiieal-H. 
12. On the 13th of NovemU-r the I iturc, at its upecial 

session, y>n»»e<\ an oct nU : the ofhoc of County .Su|>erin- 

tendcnt of Ctmuiion ^ ih, ninuily, it is U-liovtHi, from the in- 
judicious »' t»a of many of thut cUixs of otl'iccrs, hy the 
Mvcrnl County IWwnls of Sn -rs, aiul the ohnt»xious nKxio 
in which its dutum were d> hI hy inouniK'tent 
The effect of this mciu«uro, tlon. . as it undouhtf<lly WB^ 
by the p.»puhir »* ut, WJU^ ni'VorthoU«H, hi^'hly disostrous 
to the pn»- of the c<»nuni»n-iwh»K)I nyMtcni. 

\:\. On the firnt Tutiidav of Junimr\*. 1848, the I^s- 
liitiir. 1 asMcnihUHl, nnd (lovmior Yoino, in his nus- 

Mge, after alhidmj; to the pcnoral c« n <»f the State, 

hricflv nvi.wed the hi«torv of the mnnoriul ciisturlwncon, and 
reconunomlod the institution of lopil p! ^ in l>ohnlf of 

the State, to tf«t the v of the tith-s clainxMl hy the land- 

lortJs. He also nilhil ll. m of the I ture to the 

in»|x>rtanco of the State - > <>f puhlic inntniction. "Com- 

mon ^ '•«." he ol)ser%-ed, ** from their univerwility reaching? 
c\crx ty rh«K>d and .<'nce u|>on every 

family ond ujto every mmd, exjH'ihnj; tiie primary causes of 
vice and crime, and « ,' allam to pat riot ium and virtue, 

have justly been considenxl the } of lej,'ish»tivo 

care." 

14. The Rum of one million of dollars was aj d for 

the cnl;. ut of the Krie and the completion of the Gene- 

see Valley, l^iack River, and Chemtinp K • >n Canals. Gen- 
end acts were also passed, authorizing the formation of milniad. 

State nflScCT*. — Abolition rf '^^^ ""■ - nf County SnpeHr ■'••-»— ♦• '■'" '"mid- 
mon School*. — lu crtVvt*. — » inciwaer. — M- — 

Common M-hooU. — Appropriation* for rrsumpiion of the public work«. — 
General laws for corporate companies and associaiioiu. 



FREE SCHOOLS. 275 

gas, bridge, telegraph, and manufacturing companies, and asso- 
ciations for cliaritable, benevolent, missionary, and scientific pur- 
poses. 

15. The late Superintendent of Common Schools, Secretary 
Benton, in his annual report, adverted to the extension of the 
Free-School system, by the establishment, in many of the most 
important cities and villages of the State of schools, of this de- 
scription, and urged the importance of its adoption throughout 
the State, by means of a uniform system of taxation. The 
operations of the State Normal School had been thus far 
eminently successful. On the 1st of January, however, of the 
present year, it sustained a severe loss by the death of its 
Principal, David P. Page, who had administered its affairs wntli 
signal ability and usefulness. He was succeeded by Professor 
George R. Perkins, of Utica, who had heretofore the charge of 
its mathematical department. 

16. At the annual election in November, Lieutenant-Governor 
Hamilton Fish, of New York, was elected Governor, and 
George W. Patterson, of Livingston, Lieutenant-Governor. 
The presidential election resulted in the choice of General 
Zachary Taylor, of Louisiana, the hero of the Mexican War, 
as President, and Millard Fillmore, of New York, as Vice- 
President, by a majority of thirty-six electoral votes over Lewis 
Cass of Michigan for the former, and William 0. Butler of 
Kentucky for the latter office. Martin Van Buren, of New 
York, was supported for President, and Charles Francis Adams, 
of Massachusetts, for Vice-President, by the Free-Soil Demo- 
crats of the Union. 



Free schools. — State Normal School. —Death of Principal Page. — Elec- 
tion of Governor Pish and Lieutenant-Governor Patterson. —Zachary Tay- 
lor elected President, and Millard Fillmore, Vice-President. —Free- Soil 
nominations. 



. .-•' 



276 EIGHTH PERIOD. 



CHAPTER IT. 
Apmixi«tratiox or IUmiltoj* Fish. — Tns Fkxb-Scbool Cox- 

1. At tho opening of tho : itire session of 1S49, Gov- 
ernor Fish, after atlvertinj: to the penerul eondition of tho 
- ite, ealled the attention of the IxyiKlnturc to the lilieral 

bequest of four huiuire*! thoujuind dolhirs by Jolui Jucc»b Ahtor, 
of tho city of New York, for tho foutithition and i»i'r|K?tual sup- 
port of n free pubhc hhnir}-, ami rvt !ido<l the necessary 
lei^alatiou f<»r . vuhdily to the nuitiiticont donation of tho 
testator. He uIh«> nioinmcnded the endowment !>v the State of 
an Agricullurid ^^c\x^H^^\ and a school ft>r instruction in the me- 
clinnic arts ; the improvement and ext i of tlie laws for tho 
pn»tection of t . tho rwtorntiou nf the <)thce of County 
Su|>erinten«ient ol iomuion .*^ . the esuM. t of Tribu- 
nals of < ition, lion and aiutlioration of tho 
criminal cotie. 

2. The I^Hlnture, in accordance with the recommendation of 
the Governor, ad<»pted a conciirrvnt re»vr»lutitin authf»rizing tho 
appointment of a lUianI of Commii«i»merB to mature a plan for 
the c !iujent of an Agricultural College and Kxperimental 
Fann, and wubmit a detailc<l rejtort of such plan at the ensuing 
session. Strong resolutions were also psHcd declaring the un- 
alterable determination of the people of tho State to resist tho 
extension of jUiivcry- over territories now free. 

3. Tho Superi nt of Common Schools (Hon. CllRisTO- 
PHIR Morgan, Socrvtury of .*^tate), in his annual report, strongly 
urged the adoption by tho Lepsl:ittire of a system of Frf.e 
Scnooui, l>asc<l ui>on the imperative duty of the State to secure 
the means of e<lucation to every child within its Iwrders, as a 
preventive of crime and pauperism, an incentive to industr}* and 
usefulness, and a proper preparation for the di-^^ ' " <" of tho 
various duties to be devolve*! up<^»n them as future LUucnR. 

4. On tho 26th of March a bill passed Iteth Houses for tho 



GoTsmor't mewige. — Prooeedingt of the L«gisUtaro. 



STATE FREE SCHOOLS ESTABLISHED, 277 

Establishment of Free Schools throughout the State, to be 
supported by the public funds set apart for that purpose by the 
Constitution, and by county, town, and school-district taxation, 
for any sum required beyond these funds, for the building of 
suitable school-houses, and the instruction of every child be- 
tween the ages of five and twenty-one years for a period of at least 
four months in each year. This bill was required to be sub- 
mitted to the electors of the State for their ratification at the 
ensuing November election. 

5. An act was also passed on the 30th of March, appropriat- 
ing an annual sum of two hmidred and fifty dollars to such 
academies in the State, designated by the Regents of the Uni- 
versity, as should instruct at least twenty of their pupils in the 
science of common-school teaching for a period of four months 
during the year. Ex-Governor William H. Seward was, in 
February, elected United States Senator, in place of General 
John A. Dix, whose term had expired. 

6. At the November election, Christopher Morgan, of 
Cayuga, was re-elected Secretary of State ; Washington Hunt, of 
Niagara, Comptroller; and Samuel Stevens, of Albany, Attor- 
ney-General. The act for the establishment of free schools 
throughout the State was approved by a majority of 158,000 
votes ; every county in the State, with the exception of Tomp- 
kins, Chenango, Cortland, and Otsego, giving majorities in its 
favor. Previous to the ofiicial announcement of this result, the 
Boards of Supervisors in nearly half the counties had adjourned, 
without making the necessary appropriations for carrying the 
provisions of the law into effect, throwing the entire burden of 
the support of the schools for the ensuing year on the respective 
school districts. 

7. This heavy deficiency of funds, together with the great 
inequality of taxable property in the several districts, and the 
burdens thereby imposed upon the wealthy inhabitants, ren- 
dered the execution of the law exceedingly oppressive, and 
created a strong revulsion in the popular sentiment, which 

Act for the establishment of free schools throughout the State. — Teach- 
ers' Department in Academies. — United States Senator. — State elections. 
— Approval of the Free-School Bill. — Obstacles to its execution. — Causes 
of its unpopularity. 



278 EIGHTH PERIOD. 

manifested itself in numerous petitions and memori/ils to tho 
[^•j^ishiture of 1850 for a rc|>cjil or moditicatiun of the utt. 
Some of the courts nlbo held ita provisions unconstitutional, 
bv reason of the sul : u to a popular vote. Tho Atlonun- 

(jcneral, however, •; • :.f l from this opinion; and no tl i 

was finally pronounced on apf^'ol. 

8. The utnuMJt efforts were made by the friends of the bw 
to Bocuro its favomblo • < -ration, notwithstandin); the un- 

avoidable olistacles to its nn le o|x?ration. The almost 

entire unanimity with which it w d by the Le^^'islaturo 

and sanctioneil by the (K>pular vote, its intrinsic justice and 
Iwn results in <• ' tho annmtm schools to every 

child, without dis<Ttmination or restriction, and the paramount 
importance of the primiples involved in its enactment, were 
ablv an<l eUxpiently urjjed in every section of the State. Tho 
rural • •*. however, almost unanimously determined 

to effect Its uii al repeal. 

9. At tho oi ' of the session in Junuan*, 1 

18A0 

(lovemor Fisil r\" " his recommendations of the i 

year, ur^'ctl the pn»priety of est ^ 'o asylum 

and school for the instruction and care ot idtot«, aii<l the |iaHHaf;e 

of suitable laws ftir the r ion of rndroad companies and the 

comfort ami conv- •• of |..i- ^. In c*»nclusion he re- 

viewe<l the proj^rew of the di^ — .-"Uh in Congress in reference 

to the aclmission of (' lia and the new territories acquire<l 

from Mexico, and <■':•• - i the unaltenible dctennination of the 

State to resist, by all ' titutionxd means, tho 

intpxluction of slavery into niiy ol tlie territories of the United 

States where it had not already obtained a fcxjtinjf. 

10. Sevend bills were intr«Kluee<l in each House for the repeal 

or modification of the Frec-S«*h<M»l Ijiw of the preceding session. 

Able reports were presenttnl by .Mr. IIf.kkman in the Senate and 

Mr. KixosLEY in the Assembly ; and .Mr. Hrimoroim, of Orleans, 

Chairman of the Committee on Colle^TS, Academies, and C'tn- 

mon Schools of tho House, introduced a bill providing? for tho 

levy of a State tax of $ 800,000 annually for the supfwrt of the 

TVmain! for rrpcal. — Y.ftorts of its friends. — f»oTrmor'« inc«*«{T- — 
StatP aAvlain for idiots. — Railroad rvstriclioiu. — Slarcry in tbc territories. 
— Dills for the repeal of the Free-School Law. 



DEATH OF PRESIDENT TAYLOR. 279 

common schools, after applying the revenues of the funds set 
apart for that purpose. This bill passed the Assembly by a 
strong vote, but failed in the Senate. An act referring the 
question of the repeal of the existing law to the people at the 
November elections was finally adopted by both Houses. 

11. During the session an act was passed providing for the 
establishment of an asylum and school for the care and instruc- 
tion of idiots, to be located at Syracuse. This institution was 
accordingly completed and organized under the direction of Dr. 
Wilbur, and its preliminary operations were crowned with the 
most gratifying success. 

12. On the 9th of Juty, Zachary Taylor, the President of 
the United States, died at Washington, and was succeeded by 
Vice-President Millard Fillmore. Upon the question of the 
admission of California as a State, the series of measures known 
as the " Compromise Bill," introduced by Mr. Clay of Ken- 
tucky, were passed in July, admitting that State without re- 
striction as to slavery, leaving the new territories acquired from 
Mexico on the same basis, and providing for a more stringent 
execution of the Fugitive-Slave Law. 

13. The friends of free schools, after the most strenuous and 
persevering, though fruitless, efforts to obtain such amendments 
or modification of the act of 1849 as might render its provisions 
generally acceptable, determined, under these circumstances, to 
oppose its unconditional repeal. A State Convention was held 
at Syracuse in July, Mr. Morgan, the Superintendent, presid- 
ing, at which resolutions to this effect were adopted, accom- 
panied by a pledge to unite in any effort to amend and perfect 
the details of the existing law. 

14. An animated and vigorous canvass ensued throughout 
the State between the opponents of the act, who demanded its 
unconditional repeal, and the advocates of the principle of 
universal education through schools free to all, without regard 
to the details of the existing bill. So obnoxious were these 
provisions, however, in the rural districts of the State, that at 
the fall elections forty-two of the fifty-nine counties returned an 

Death of President Taylor. — Succession of Vice-President Fillmore. — 
Admission of California. — " Compromise Bill " of Mr. Clay. — Free-school 
canvass. 



280 EIGHTH PERIOD. 

•ggregmte majority of nearly forty-nino thonMod TOtM for ita 
repeal, while in the seventeen reinainini? eountien, inchuliti^ the 
city and county of New York, a majority of seventy two thouiuind 
against rei)eal was pivcn, — leaving a majority of altout 1' 
votca in favor of the bill The majority in New York City aJi-:. 
waa 37,827. 

15. \V.%aiiixcToN Hint, of Niagaim, the lato Comptroller, waa 
elected Govenior by a nwjonty of about two hundred votes over 
HuR.vTio Setmoir of Oneida; and Sa.npord E. Cuuhch of 
Orleans, the candidate of the Democratic party, waa cl 
Licutcnant-Oovcmor. 



l<«!il 



C H .V r T K R III. 

A, x or W»- To< III ?«T.— MoDiriCATio?* or tiik 

1 .i.wi. Law. — L*..- • axal KxLAautMitjiT — A..mcLi.Ti u ii 

1. I Noii Hunt, in his annual inweago to the U. n« 
of iK')!, after arlvertinj; to the general condition ol the 
State, invited the attention of the I>e;;iHlaturo to the sub- 
ject of common -school eiluration, rej»nnlin;» the decision of a ma- 
joritv of the electors of the State as concluaivo in favor of the 
prim-iplo of free schools, while leaving the details of the 
system subject to such equitAblc nKMlifiontion as should render 
its adminintration acceptable to all intcreste<l in its bunlens as 
well as itJ» IwnotitJi. 

2. "It cannot Imj doubtcil,'* ho ob^irve*!, " tliat all property 
eetatea, whether Urge or small, will derive important advantages 
from the universal education of the people. A wcll-conaidcred 
system which shall insure to the children of all the hiewinga 
of moral and intellectual culture will plant foundations I»road 
and deep for public and private virtue ; and ita cffecta will be 
■een in the diminution of vice and crime, the more gcDeral 
pmrtico of sobriety, industry, and intr^ty, conservative and 
cnli;^htcned It^slation, and universal obedieDoe to the lawa" 

Majority a^ — Free-«cbool conlroTcr»y. — Mcmi^ of the 

GoTcmor. 



CANALS AND SCHOOLS. 281 

3. After stating that sixteen millions of dollars had already 
been expended upon the canals of the State since the com- 
mencement of the Erie Canal enlargement in 1835, and dis- 
cussing various plans for the completion of these great works at 
the earliest practicable period, he recommended such an amend- 
ment to the Constitution as would facilitate the accomplishment 
of this object. He also concurred in the recommendation of his 
predecessor for the organization of a State Agricultural College 
and Experimental Farm. 

4. The annual report of Secretary Morgan, as Superintendent 
of Common Schools, urged upon the Legislature the importance 
of such an amendment of the existing law establishing Free 
Schools, as was demanded alike by justice and expediency, and 
by an enlightened public sentiment. " The Common Schools 
of the State," he observed, " should be declared free to everv 
resident of the respective districts of the proper age to par- 
ticipate in their benefits ; and their support should be made a 
charge upon the whole property, either of the State at large, or 
of the respective counties and towns in which they are situated." 

5. Numerous petitions were forwarded to the Legislature 
from different sections of the State for the repeal or amendment 
of the act. On the sixth day of February, Mr. Theodore H. 
Benedict, of Westchester, Chairman of the Assembly Com- 
mittee on Colleges, Academies, and Common Schools, presented 
an elaborate and able report, accompanied by a bill for the estab- 
lishment of Free Schools, to be supported by an annual tax of 
eight himdred thousand dollars, in addition to the funds already 
provided by the Constitution, and the raising of any balance re- 
quired for the support of the schools by a poll-tax on the 
inhabitants of the respective districts. 

6. Mr. Burroughs, of Orleans, from the minority of the Com- 
mittee, reported a similar bill, providing for a State tax of the 
same amount, one fourth of which, together with one fourth of 
all other moneys applicable to the support of common schools, 
should be equally divided among the several school districts, 
the residue apportioned according to the number of children of 

Erie Canal enlai-gement. — Proposed amendment to Constitution. — 
Agricultural College and Experimental Farm. — Report of the Superin- 
tendent of Common Schools. — Propositions for amendment of the laws. 



282 EIGHTH PERIOD. 



<x 



Buitable school age residing in each, nn.l any balance Tftited \ 
rnte-liill on thoee sending' to Bclntoi, after exempting all indigent 
inhahitantH. In this «l»a|je, after subutitutiug one thinl instead 
of one fourth for ttjual distribution among the districtii, tlio 
bill, on the 12th of April, became a law. 

7. On the first Tuesday of Febniark', Kx-Govenior Hamiltox 
Fish, of New York, wa« ap|>ointod I'nited States Senator, in 
place of Lieutenant -li<»venior Dickinson, whose term had cx- 
pire<l. A joint resolution of the Legihlature was also adopted, 
authorifin? the Governor to ap|M>int a S|H'cial (Vunmishioner ft»r 
the c* ion and revision of the school laws of tiie State, un- 
der which pntvision S. S. IIan'DaLL, Dcput; it of 
Common Sch<jols, was ap^wtnted. 

8. At the Noveml»er electiona, IliisuT S. IUndalu of Cort- 
land, waa elected Secrctarj* of State and Su|>crintcndent of 
Common Schools; Jons C. WiinniT, of .Schoharie. Comptroller, 
and Joiix Van- IUres, of All At ton iiend, with a 
Democratic nn in the Ix»j;i»lature. In Deceml»er the ex- 
ile<l Hunpirian patriot, I»i is Kt»K«i'Tli, arrivetl in New York on 
a visit to the United States, and was received with the greatest 
enthuaiasm in all t!»e princi|¥il cities and towns. 

9. The message of Governor HrxT, at the ojioning of the 
***^* aesaion of \^y2, recapittilate<l the jirincipal rec<.mmenda- 
tions of the prere<Iing year ; stated the entire indebtedness of 
the State at twenty-two millions of doIUra, and the canal reve- 
nues at $3,7«' which, after defraying the exjK'nscs of re- 
pairs and maintenance, and contributin^r upwanls of a million 
and a half dollars to the j»avment of the principal and interest 
of the debt contracte<l for their construction, left a suq>lu8 of 
nearly a million di.llars for the con n of the public worka. 
10. The aasesaed valuation of the State was estinuited at 
$1,100.(1 '). The capital of the Common>icho«l Fund waa 
six and a half millions of dollars, of the revenues of which, nearly 
a million and a half had l>een expon<le<l during the preceding 
jear, in the payment of t**su'her«' wajres and the purchase of 

PaiMME« of the Act — Vniic*! Sutes Senator. — '"-"iiniMloncT for rert»- 
fcm of ichool Uw«. — Sutc offinm. — VWi of i i — I>r|n«l«Jure of 

IWi. — GoTcmor'* inc»*«*»«. — State debt. — Rr% • I the canaU. — 

Valaation of taxable property. — ConuDon s chool*. 



SEYMOUR AND CHURCH. 283 

school libraries. The number of pupils in attendance upon the 
several public schools was seven hundred and twenty-six thou- 
sand. 

11. The Governor reviewed the action of the Legislature and 
the people of the State, in reference to the effort to secure an 
entirely free system of common schools, and characterized the 
enactment of the preceding session as a temporary compromise 
between the advanced views of the advocates of Free Schools 
and the fears and prejudices of a majority of the tax-payers and 
inhabitants of the rural districts, long accustomed to the exist- 
ing system, and unwilling to sanction its entire abandoiiment. 
The progress of public opinion might be relied upon to diffuse 
a more liberal view of the relations of the State to its future 
citizens. 

12. At the November elections, Horatio Seymour, of Oneida, 
was elected Governor, and Sanford E. Church, of Orleans, re- 
elected Lieutenant-Governor, by a majority of about twelve 
thousand votes over Governor Hunt and Lieutenant-Governor 
Patterson j Franklin Pierce, of New Hampshire, was elected 
President, and William R. King, of Alabama, Vice-President of 
the United States, by a large majority, over Lieutenant-General 
WiNFiELD Scott and William A. Graham, of North Carolina. 



CHAPTER IV. 

First Administration of Horatio Seymour. — Agricultural Col- 
lege. — Manorial Titles. — Railroads. — Finances of the State. 
— Internal Improvements. — Public Schools of New York City. 

1. The Legislature met on the first Tuesday of Janu- 
ary, 1853. Governor Seymour, in his message, indorsed 
the recommendations of his predecessor for the adoption of 
such a constitutional amendment as might facilitate the early 
completion of the Erie Canal enlargement and the construction 
of the Genesee Valley, Black River, and Oswego Canals. He 

Election of Governor Seymonr and Lieutenant-Governor Church. — Elec- 
tion of President Franklin Pierce and Vice-President William R. King. — 
Legislative proceedings. — Governor's message. — Canal enlargement. 



284 FAr.urU VKllWD. 

•lao urjrcd the cstaMishment of n Stutc Acrricultuml and 5v'icn- 
tific Collc«^'c, for iiistnietion in the practical application of the 
variouH brunches of Hcience. Tho suits instituted hv the State 
to test the validity of the several manorial titles having l>een 
dccidc<l in favor of tho landlonU, he couMHcUed huIm it to tho 

laws on the |iart (»f tho tenants, and such a diM|x>sition of their 
leases as should prove most advanta;^'ouH to their iuten--'- 

2. An act was {mssed, in accordance with the recoinnicnda 
tiou of the Governor and his predeoeaaors, ^n-antin^ a charter 
fur the eHta)ih»hnient of an A^ricultund Colle;^, with an ex{)eri- 
mental fann. Sixty-six mdnmd coni|ianies had lK>en orpmized 
imder tho ^>nend provision of tho < ; ution, and suitahio 
laws were enactitl for their rej^lation and tho safety and con- 
venience of travellers. 

3. A s)MH:iul session of the Legislature was conveneil hy tho 
Govenior, inm ly u|)on its adjournment, for the purpoM 
of coj i;; the eiui iii i -■ 1 ' on of the State, 
the omission to make tho i \Ty appropriatioiiH for the su|>- 
port of the pjveniment, and lui : the ueccHsary measures 
for the proin^'ss and completion of tho puhhc worka An 
amendment to the ' : was prt»|)osed for the accom- 
plishment of this ■ . ami an act paase<l, which was, however, 

\ hv the Attomev-<; 1 to l»e unconKtitutional, for tho 

imrficdiate i t»f the r> o funds for this pur|M>Ne. 

4. Iin; I hiM I in March, Y t 
PlERcr. ap|Kunte<i Kx « . \ • nior William L MAiirv, of New York, 
Secretiiry of State, which othce he contintie^l to hold during: tho 
entire prrsi<lontial term. On the 18th of April, Vice-President 
Ki.N'O expired at his ; in Alulmma, and David It Atchi- 
80X, of Missouri, was chiwti Tr- ~ I- nt of the Senate in his place. 

5. On the 4th of June an act wtis jiassed revising and amend- 
ing the school law of the city of New York, hv which the several 
ward schools of that city and the scho*)Is of tho Public School 
Society were consolidated, and a IWiartl of K<lucati(m entahliMlM*<l 
for the gcnenU mana;: • of the - • of two 
commissioners from cactt \winl and ttUevu lr«»nt titc PtiMic 



Rtate A|jTir«'^»"«-'»1 and Scientific roit...»« — Manorin' itft... — Railroad 
roni|>antc«. — \ 1 tcAnion of iho I o. — J. .1 embarrsM- 

mcnts. — Propoaed amendment to tho Constitution. 



ADMINISTRATION OF HORATIO SEYMOUR. 285 

School Society, with local Boards of Trustees and Inspectors in 
the several wards. At this time there were 224 ward and cor- 
porate schools, including those of the Public School Societj^ 
with about one thousand teachers and 123,530 pupils on 
register, with an average attendance of 43,740, together with 
twenty-five evening schools, with about four thousand pupils. 

6. The Public School Society of that citv had been in exist- 
ence since the year 1805, and from the period of the opening 
of its first public school in 1809 had, with the aid of a propor- 
tionate share of the State School Fund, organized and adminis- 
tered a s^^stem of elementary education unsurpassed by any in 
the country. The time seemed now to have arrived, however, 
when the necessity for a more extensive system of public in- 
struction required the dissolution of the society, and the trans- 
fer of its property to the Board of Education already organized 
for the accomplishment of the same object, with greater facilities ; 
and the results have amply vindicated the wisdom of their de- 
termination. 

7. At the November elections, Elias "W. Leavenworth, of 
Onondaga, was elected Secretary of State and Superintendent 
of Common Schools ; James M. Cook, of Saratoga, Comptrol- 
ler; and Ogden Hoffman, of New York, Attorney-General. The 
Republicans obtained a majority in both branches of the Legis- 
lature. 

8. Governor Seymour, in his message to the Legislature 
of the succeeding year, reviewed the history of the State 
from its early origin, the character and condition of its inhabi- 
tants, and its rapid advancement in all the elements of wealth 
and political greatness. The first steamboat had been launched 
on its waters, — the first canal, at a cost of $ 7,000,000, traversed 
its breadth, — the earliest and most efficient system of public 
education originated with its founders, and its patriotism and 
loyalty to the Union had never swerved. 

9. He renewed his recommendation for the vigorous prosecu- 
tion of the several unfinished public works of internal improve- 
ment, and the indorsement of the proposed constitutional 

Public schools of the city of New York. — Consolidation of the system. — 
State officers. — Governor's message. — Review of the history and condition 
of the State. 



286 EIGHTH PERIOD. 

amendment ; sugprestcd varioua improvements and m 
of the criminal code, and recommended the reoFipuiizHtiou of 
the State mihtiu, and the orpaniauuion of a Department of Pub- 
lic Inst met ion He|jarttte from tliat of the office of Sccrctarj' of 

State. 

10. An am. iiilment to the State Constitution, proposed hv the 
Le;;i«lature of the precedin;; year, wiw at thin »e»Hit>n ratifietl l»y 
the rcfjuiaitc vote of lioth Houiie*, and by the |»o<)ple at a H|>ecial 
election held on the 14th of February, requirinu' an appropria- 
tion of an annual sum, not cxceetlin;^ $1*.: "►, during; tlio 
ensuing four yearn, n»r the enlar^'ement of the Krie, the Ob- 
wego, Cavupi, and Seneca, and the completion of the Itlack 
River and lJenei*e« Valley CanalH. An act wau ac* ly 
psaiicd for the vigorouit prutiocution and early completion of 
the«c irorkn. 

11. During; the month of Manh, a bill wa« pafMe<I creating 
the ofliccof Siri:uiNTrM>KXT of Pinuc Ixstiuction, the duties 
of which had heret«»f«Te lieen devolved on the Secn'tury of 
State ; and on the 4th of April, VuTtiR M. Kick, of Kne, was 
elected by joint Uillot of the two Houhcs to (ill that |>«»Kition 
for the V : tvnu of three years. By the proviniotiH of the 
act, the incundient of the office was also declare<l ej- a 
Regent of the I'niveniity and chairman of the Executive Com- 
mittee of the State Nonnal > 

12. Since the failure <.f the t 1 law of 1840, and the 
ad«>ption in 1851 of a nr m, rx" ,' tho rate-bill 
feature, ^ 1 pr«»viMonH Imd l>een cnactttl by the 1 . iture 
for the establi.shment of free and union Hch<M»U in all the cities 
and princi^nl towns and villa^.^es of the State. I><>[)artments 
for the «j>ecial iuHtruction and i»re|»aration of teachers had l>een 
orpmizeil in most of the academies, and annual county insti- 
tutes authorized for that purpose thr ut the State. The 
State Normal School at AUeiny had also been place<l on a per- 
manent liosia. Roanls of Kducation, with local superintendents, 

Protccaiion of public work*. — 1 i of ihc militia. — Criminal 

code. — Depiirtmeni of I'm! ' T 'innal unen ' — 

S u pi' Hn tendon t of public - .. ^, .atire prox ■ r 

free and union KchooU. — 'I ^' dcpai m academioi.— Tui«.!uf«' 

iDsututca. — State Normal bdiool. 



CLARK AND RAYMOND. 287 

were organized under these provisions in the chief cities and 
towns of the State. 

13. At the November election, Myron H. Clark, of Ontario, 
was elected Governor, and Henry J. Raymond, of New York, 
Lieutenant-Governor, by a small majority over Governor Sey- 
mour, the Democratic, and Daniel Ullman, the Native-American 
candidates for the former and William H. Ludlow and Gusta- 
vus A. Scroggs for the latter office, with a Whig majority in 
both branches of the Legislatm-e. 



CHAPTEH V. 

Administrations of Myron H. Clark and John A. King. — Excise 
Law. — CoiMMON Schools. — Controversy with Virginia. — The 
Lemsion Case. — County Commissioners. — Schools. — State Tax. 

1. Governor Clark, in his first messao-e, took strong: 
ground in favor of an entire free-school system, the res- 
toration of the office of County Superintendent, the revision of 
the excise laws, the prohibition of licenses for the sale of intoxi- 
cating liquors, and the active prosecution of the unfinished pub- 
lic works. 

2. He also invited the attention of the Legislature to the pro- 
gress of a controversy with the Executive and Legislature of 
Virginia respecting a claim of Jonathan Lemmon, a citizen of 
that Commonwealth, for damages for the abduction or loss 
of eight slaves, brought by him to the city of New York in 1852, 
on his way to Texas, and who were discharged from his custody 
by one of the judges of the Supreme Court of New York, on a 
writ of habeas corpus, and had escaped to Canada. Proceedings 
having been instituted before the Supreme Court of the United 
States for restitution, the Governor recommended the appoint- 
ment of special counsel to assist the Attorney-General in the 
defence. 

State elections. — Governor's message. — Free schools. — County super- 
vision. — Excise laws. — Prohibitory restriction of the sale of liquor. — Con- 
troversy with Virginia. — The Lemmon case. 



288 EIGHTH PERIOD. 

3. The Le^Utiire made the re<]ui8itc provision for the cm- 
plmriu'iit of citiinsel ; nnt! the caiie wiia 8iU»He<juentlv Rrjj^iiwi and 

-sed u|x»n the |jroinnl of the rijjht of the jiersons cUimed 
to frt'odoin on l»ein;; vohintarily hn>u^ht within the juriitdictiun 
of a free State. An act wan also imih8ih1 for the Kuppn'SMion of 
int»MnT»«^nince, pnufieriKin, and crime, proliihitin;; the ^Tiintinij 
of 1 •* for the mile of intoxicatin;.' li«piorK, and restrict inj; the 

trurtic in anient -TMrita. William H. Skward wa« revlccti'd 
I'nitetl Staten '»r for the eiwninir tcnn of six vtnirK. An 

act uatK |iniiM><l making; citicH and > •-» liable for prt)|terty 

tl. ^tr«>\td l»y inolw within their l»ordcn*, and Rtron;» reHnlutitins 
adoptetl adventc to the uggrcHsionti and further cxtcntiiou of 
bLiver}'. 

4. Tlio Native American jmrty nuooeeded in earning: the 

Novcmlicr eU l»y a trinniphunt nngority. Jons* T. 

}|r.\uly, of Oraii^, waa < r\ of Stiito ; I>»ittL\zo 

Ik HHows, of Orlpaiw, Comptroller; and 1>amel I'llma.n, of New 

York, At tor - iiend. 

0. On the nMMomhlin;: of the \a \tc in the eniiu> 

1856 

\i\\* year, CJo vendor Clark infoniuHl the I^e^rinlature that 
upwnrd.H of \\\tvc thouHand milcn of milrrNuU had lieen con- 
Btnictf*! in different (ii>ctionii of the State, at an ajr,;repitc cost 
of $ 1 . ami recoiii ^1 the ap|Miintment «»f State 

Commiii^ for their MU|ierviHion and control. lie renewed his 

recomnn n for free h and ncu > throughout the 

■everal towns of the State, and the entire ai :i c*f rate-hillii. 

6. l>urin;; the xotwion. acta were }jaBiicd for the n, in 

each Aaaemhly district of the State, of a comii icr charpLvi 

with the local 8U[)or\'i8ion of the puhlic (h^IkkiIh, where 8|iecial 
provision for that purp«»Ho had not l»een made. A tai of three 
fourths of one mill upon each dollar of the asMessetl valuation 
of real and |>ersonal projierty in the State, for the 8up|»ort of 
common school.*!, was sulwtituted for the ( o tax of 

oii:ht hundre<l thousand <l«»llani. 

r •• • r Uh. — KcHlccilon of V. 

— Tr 
Ulnnc of 1856. — Governor'* m — - »-»•. — KailraaUt. 
acad«miec. — butc tAX for sapport of tcbooU. — AMcmbl/ Ui»thct conuni*- 
•iooen. 



ft 


s 


• ., f 


tt^l 


1 

•rhooU 


to 


>' I : 


Frre 


and 



KING AND SELDEN. 289 

7. At the annual election in November, John A. King, of 
Queens, was elected Governor, and Henry R. Selden, of Mon- 
roe, Lieutenant-Governor, over Amasa J. Parker, of Delaware, 
the Deraocratic, and Erastus Brooks, of New York, the Native- 
American candidates, with a Republican majority in both 
branches of the Legislature. Charles H. Sherrill, of Monroe, 
was chosen Canal Commissioner. James Buchanan, of Penn- 
sylvania, was elected President, and John C. Breckenridge, of 
Kentucky, Vice-President of the United States, over John C. 
Fremont of California and William L. Dayton of New Jersey. 
Millard Fillmore, of New York, was supported for President 
by the Native-American organization. 

8. At the meeting of the Legislature in January, 1857, 
Governor King in his message estimated the entire cost of 

the canals of the State, extending over about nine hundred miles, 
at fift}'" millions of dollars. The value of the real and personal 
property in the State was stated at $ 2,208,010,609, — the num- 
ber of acres of improved land at 13,574,479, with about an 
equal area unimproved — and the population, according to the 
census of 1855, at about three and a half millions. 

9. He recommended a judicious revision and modification of 
the excise law of the previous session, deeming its provisions 
unnecessarily stringent and obnoxious to a large portion of the 
citizens of the State ; the submission of a proposed constitu- 
tional amendment extending the right of suffrage to colored 
voters w^ithout a property qualification ; the speedy completion 
of the unfinished public works ; and a strenuous resistance on 
the part of the Legislature to the further extension of slavery 
in the territories. 

10. On the second Tuesday in February, Preston King, of 
St. Lawrence, was elected United States Senator in place of 
Hamilton Fish, whose term of ofiice had expired. Acts were 

Election of John A. King as Governor and Henry R. Selden as Lieuten- 
ant-GoA-ernor. — Election of President Buchanan and Vice-President Breck- 
enridG;e. — Governor's message. -^ Cost of canals. — Assessed valuation of 
the State. — Number of acres of improved and unimproved land. — Popu- 
lation of the State. — Modification of the excise law. — Extension of suf- 
frage to colored voters. — Slavery in the territories. — United States Sen- 
ator. 

19 



290 EIGHTH PERIOD, 

pamed for the suppression of inteujfKTunce, and the rejrulation 1 
of the sale of intoxicating: liquorn, and pn>vidiui: a Uxx for tin- 
speedy completion of the enlarged Kne and other ctinaln. Juiut 
resolutions were adopted, declaring that this State will not idlow 
slavery in her bonlers in any fonu or under any pretence, or for 
any time, however short ; and that the Supreme Court of the 
United States, in pronouncing? the «i \\ in the Drod Scott 

case, had forfeited the atntidence and res|)cct of the State. 

11, During; the summer of this ycnr, Kx-tJovenior William 
L. MakcY expired sudtleidy, of diNcMUM? of the heart, while on a 
visit to Samti-jn SprinpL l»ovcnu»r Maucy luul successively 
f)lU*d with d. •hI ahility nmnv of the most im{>ortaut 

officn^s in the St aul n ■ nmient. As Adjutant- 

General, Jutlgo of the Supi- ■ < irt, (.'<»mpt roller, (jovenior. 
United States Senator, .'^ x-y of War under Prewident Polk 

and of State under PrvKident Pierce, he had exhihited j^vat ail 
miniHtrative talent and marked statcsmansliip. Appn>priut<- 
honors were |»aid throughout the State to his memor>'. 

13. At the Novcmlnjr election, liii»i>»N J. Tn kkii, of Alliany, 
was • i Sfcretarj' of State, SANPtmn H C'uliuii, of Orleans, I 

Comptroller, and Lymax Tkcmain, Attorney -<ienend, with Dem- 
ocratic nugorities in both branches of the Ix'gislaturc. 

13. (lovemor Kisti, in his message to the I^ogislaturo 
of 1858, renewed hi^ mrommendations of the prece<ling 
year ; and after giving a A account of the condition of the 

State in its %*arious department*, concluded by an energetic re- 
monstrance against the ci»ntinuod aigntsaaions of the slave-power 
as manifeHte<l by its determination to force slavery into the tcr- 
ritories of Kansas and NebntMka at the jKiint of the l»ayonet 

1 \. .\t the Noveml»cr election, EnwiN I>. Mohoa.v, of New 
York, w!u» electe<l Covemor, and HnDRRT Campbeli^ of Steuben, 
Lieutenant-Governor, by a majority of al>out wrenteen thousaiKl 
votes over Amasa J. Parker of DeLiware and William H. Ludlow 
of New York, the Democratic • ites. Ik»th Houses of the 

Legislature wen? strongly Kepublican. 

License law. — Tax for speedy eooiplecion of the poblic work* — TVvth 

ami rhsracter of Kx-Ooremor Marry. — Sute oAcen. — I •-' of 

1 858. — ( Hirenior's inenaire. — S utr flections. — Ekedon of (• -lor- 

gan and Lieotenant-Govcmur CampticU. 




Seventh Regiment marching down Broadway. 



CHAPTER VI. 

Administration of Edwin D. Morgan. — People's College at Ha- 
vana. — Visit op the Prince or Wales. — The Southern Rebel- 
lion. — Attitude of New York. — Patriotic Proceedings of the 
Legislature. — Enlistment of Volunteers. — Public Meetings. 

1. The first message of Governor Morgan consisted ^^^^ 
substantially in a renewal of the recommendations of his 
predecessor in reference to the vigorous prosecution of the 
canal enlargements and extensions, the modification of the ex- 
cise laws, and the full extension of the right of suffrage to 
colored voters. His views on national affairs were eminently 
patriotic and conservative in their tendency. While desirous 
of fulfilling, in their letter and spirit, all the obligations of the 
Constitution, the citizens of New York could never consent to 
the further extension of slavery. 

Governor's message. — Modification of the excise laws. — Colored suffrage. 



292 EIGHTH PERIOD. 

2. In reviewing the events of the |Mu*t few years, — the repeal 
of the MisHiniri t'omproniiiio Act, the rti^ritious attempts t4» in- 
trwluco shiverv into the territories ftcuuirtil hy the Mexican 
War, the ri 'il • iif..rcen»ent of the Fuptive Shive Law, nnd the 
BVMtenmtit- i»s t»f the hhivt»-|K>wer, — it wiu» apparent that 
the forliear..-. f the free States h:u! Un?n tiixetl to their iitnioKt 
cntliinuico, and that tt spirit of coi. ..»n, ami the prevalence 
of more nnxlemte conni*els, were absohitely necessiir}* to the con- 
tintieil integrity ant! harmony of the I'nitUL 

3. The recent invasiiui of Vir^rinia hy Ji»hn Hrown and his 
anociates. its pmmpt suppreHsiou, and the condi;^ni punishment 
of its anthom, were rvvitwiHl, and rt»t;«rde<l as uixIotihtKl evi- 
dence that no liesi^'ns were entertainwi on the j»art of tlie North 
to interfere with the institutions of the .S4)Uth, or to sanction in 
any way any infrinpMnent of its territon*, or any attempt, by 
violence or otherwise, to d'Htnrh its i^venunent. 

4. At the NovemU»r n, David It Fix) yd Jos em, of 
Suffolk, WHS eltMtiNl S A-y of Stilt© ; Hoiikut Dennistox, of 
Oranp?, Comj r ; and ('iiahi.im CJ. My wis, of St biwrence, 
Attoniev-denend. The Y>nt{tr>scd iHinwtitutiiuial lunendment in 
reference to oi>lorf<l sii was r. 1 l»y a lar^e majority. 

5. On the n- 1 »jc of the I>?K'i'*hiture, (lovemor 

MoitUAN apiin invited the attention of the Ix><^nHlaturo to 
the ntMCHsity of a Bpec<ly compli-tion of the puhhc works fortl)< 
advanrement and ett^'UHinn of the commerce of the State, ami 
augce^te<i various i. i»f the civil and criminal ctnle. 

II. renewed! the re«H»num«mlation of his pre<leccHsor for the es 
tiihiishment of an A itund and Sientific ( olle^. 

6. Acts were {Hissed, during the session, chun^jin;; the mode of 
inflicting; capital puninhment, providing for the extension of th< 
rights of married women and emihling them to hold and convev 
real and {tcrsonal estate, and amending and m<Mlifying the in 
solvent laws. Provisicm was mode for the en- pn>secuti<'n 

of the pulilic works an<l for the endowment of the People's ( 1 
lege at Havana. During the stunmer and autumn of this yrat. 



Nn''-'"'' nfTairi. — John Brown'» tuvi.ki.in of Vjr -ini-a. ^Stsl8 oIBcct^. 
— K. of oolorcd-saffraire amei. mesMjpe. — C 

UU imnishinrot. — Ki^hu of married 



ABRAHAM LINCOLN ELECTED PRESIDENT. 293 

the Prince of Wcales, Albert Edward, visited the State under 
the title of Baron Renfrew, in company with the Duke of New- 
castle and several members of the British Government, and met 
with a cordial and enthusiastic reception from the Legislature 
and municipal bodies. 

7. The contest for the Presidency during the summer and fall 
of this year was one of unusual interest and excitement. The 
struggle on the part of the Southern States for the extension of 
slavery into the territories recently acquired and organized, and 
for the definitive settlement of their claims to an equal partici- 
pation in these territories with the citizens of the Northern por- 
tions of the Union, was waged with a desperate and unyielding 
pertinacity, and met with an equally determined resistance on 
the part of their opponents. 

8. The Republican party, representing the views of all those 
who desired to restrict slavery to its present limits' under the 
compromises of the Constitution, and to resist its farther exten- 
sion upon any pretext, placed in nomination, as their candidate 
for President, Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois, with Hannibal Ham- 
lin, of Maine, as Vice-President. The candidates of the South 
were John C. Breckinridge, of Kentucky, for President, and 
General Joseph Lane, of Oregon, for Vice-President ; while the 
Democracy of the Northern, Middle, and Western States sup- 
ported Stephen A. Douglas, of Illinois, for the first, and Her- 
SCHEL V. Johnson, of Georgia, for the second office. Lincoln 
and Hamlin were elected by a majority of fifty-seven electoral 
votes over all the candidates in opposition. Governor Morgan 
and Lieutenant-Governor Campbell were re-elected by an im- 
mense majority, and Samuel H. Barnes, of Chenango, elected 
Canal Commissioner. 

9. During the whole of the administration of President 
Pierce, and the early portion of that of his successor, Presi- 
dent Buchanan, a vigorous effort had been made on the part of 
the Southern States to introduce slavery into the new territories 
of Kansas and Nebraska. After a prolonged and bloody strug- 

Visit of the Prince of Wales. — Presidential and State election. — Abra- 
ham Lincoln elected President and Hannibal Hamlin Vice-President. — 
Re-election of Governor Morgan and Lieutenant-Governor Campbell. — 
The Kansas and Nebraska struggle. 



294 Fir, urn PERIOD. 

pie bctwcon the Rcttlcrs and parties from MiRsouri on the bor- 
deni of the territoricR, the attempt wa« filially abaiidoiieil, ami 
the election of I'rtsjtlent Lincoln accepted l>y the South as a 
distinct intimation of the future ixjlicy of the povcnimcnt ad- 
verse to the extension of the institution beyond itii exist inir 
limits, and a seccMion from the I'nion roaoWed uiK>n as the only 
remuininfj^ altemativa 

10. At the ensuiug iMrion of Con^nx^M, sevenil futile ctlorts 
were made on the part of Southern S- ■ •-s and Keprescnta- 
tives, and those who had hitherto |»olitii-;4iiy acted in conjunc- 
tion with them, to elToct some c«>mpromise bv which slavery 
should bo rvcotniiM?d and tolerated in territories lyinp south of 
tho Missouri line. The failure of all these pn>)K)sitions deter- 
mined the of the St>utheni States, and, on tho l^'th of 
December, .-^juui Carolina formally 8ceo<lod frrun the Tnion, ttn<l 
was Rfieoilily followed by Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Missis- 
sippi, <: ' tisiana, and Texas. A provisional govern- 
ment ol Uic ♦- "iiifjcmte "^^ * < was or^^iized at Mori* • n*, 
AlulKima, on tho 4th of hi inuiry, 1861, aiid Jefffjumja jjavim, 
of Mis.sissippi. elei*ted rresidcnt^ and AiJULAh'DBR H. Stcpuexs, 
of Gvorgia, Vice-President, 
11. The Ix>LMshituro of New York asscmblod on the 

1061. 

2d uf Jantmry. Uovemor Morgan's moasa^ was tern 
perato and concilmtor}*, recommendm^ a just and honorable 
settlement of the jrreat national questions at issuo, and tho 
repeal, by the State, of all laws cfiminp in conflict with the 
requisitions of previous con^ntJasiooal legislation on the subject 
of slavery. These moderate riows were soon, however, dis- 
covered to be not in aooordaooe with the prevailing Uun{icr and 
spirit of the Ix?^slature. 

12. (>n the 11th of January, joint resolutions were, with 
almost entire umuiimity, adopted by both llousis, dfclarin;; 
that the insurvent State of South Carolina, after seizin;; tho 
public offices and fort ificnit ions of the Federal Crovenimcnt, had, 
^'V firing upon a govcnmx*nt vessel sent to tJie relief of Fort 



Attempu St mmpmouM. — RpeaMJoa of the Sotithem Sutr*. — Oivmni- 
sfttioa of thr Soiithrm Confi ' lings of tbe Lsgislacais. — 

Joint rwolution* fur the prescr..... 



• iv V •«< 



PATRIOTIC ACTION OF THE STATE. 295 

Sumter, virtually declared war against the United States, and 
announcing their determination to sustain the war for the 
preservation of the Union; tendering at the same time to the 
President whatever aid in men and money might be required 
to enable him to enforce the laws and uphold the authority 
of the Federal Government. These resolutions were directed 
to be transmitted by the Governor to the President, and the 
executives of each of the States in the Union. 

13. Notwithstanding the bold and patriotic stand thus as- 
sumed by the Legislature, numerous public meetings of mer- 
chants and others were held in the large cities and towns of 
the State, and memorials forwarded to Congress expressive of 
a strong desire for a conciliatory adjustment, by that body, of 

ythe questions at issue. On the 24th of January the Governor 
^transmitted to both Houses resolutions of the Virginia Legis- 
lature, recommending the assembling of a convention of dele- 
gates from the several States at Washington, on the 4th of 
February, with the view of effecting a satisfactory basis of com- 
promise between the conflicting parties. 

14. On the recommendation of the Governor, the Legislature, 
on the 1st of February, after full discussion, appointed David 
Dudley Field, William Curtis Noyes, James S. Wadsworth, 
James C. Smith, Amaziah B. James, Erastus Corning, Francis 
Granger, Greene C. Bronson, William E. Dodge, John A. King, 
and John E. Wool as such Commissioners. The "Peace Con- 
gress," as it was termed, accordingly assembled at Washington, 
with 'Ex-President John Tyler in the chair, and on the 1st of 
March agreed to a plan of compromise, based upon such an 
amendment of the National Constitution as should permit the 
existence of slavery south of the parallel of 36° 30' north 
latitude, while prohibiting it north of that line. Nine States 
voted in favor of this proposition, and eight against it, — the 
delegation from New York being equally divided in consequence 
of the absence of one of their number. 

15. On the 3d of February, Ira Harris, of Albany, was 
elected United States Senator, in place of William H. Seward, 
who had been invited by President Lincoln to occupy a seat 

Efforts at compromise. - Proceedings of the Peace Congress. — United 
States Senator. 



206 EIGHTH PERI on. 

in )u8 cabinet as Socrctarv of State. Am on from 

the merchant8 nnil othen* of New York, with |i»rtv tluiUHiUid 
Kii^iitttures, \v:i8 forwiinlcil to Con;;rf&K, lu I l»v a tlelfjju- 

tion from the t'haml»er of (' rce t»f ilic ciiv of New York, 

ur. fill Kcttlement ol the nutionul tlifhcultics. 

l»i. llie U>mUinlment ujul rtHiiiction of Fort > ;i, on 

the 12th and 13th of April, bv the mtlitnrv uuthoriiien uf the 
Confe<lfracy, put an end to all further ne<^i>tiationH for a^juHt- 
mont of the eontrovemy, which Imd nt>w culmiiiutc'd in o|H?n re- 
bellion luui civil war. On the ITith of April, Prf.sidcnt Lincoln 
issued \\\A pntclanuition caHui;; fur a militiir>' force «>f Hcventy- 
fivo thousand men, of which the quota of New York was 
thirteen thouMind, or thirti««n n'j^imentii, for the - -iMion of 

the inNurrectioii. The i^'i^inlature promptly a(iuturi/c<l tho 
enrolment, by tho (fovenior. of thirty thousand men, and ap- 
pn>priat4.*d the sum of thnx; millions of dollars for the necessary 
expensfM. 

17. (lovenior MoiuiAN : smil hin priK-lauKHion 
for the n'ndezvtuiH of the Muic iivm.j^ ul Klmini and New York 
City ; and ^»n the lJ»th c»f Apnl ortlen* were forwanlcnl to tho 

••nts in that citv to iir^tow*! imme<liatelv to Wiu-l = n. 
in\ tno 24lh an ajjent of the State was des{mtehe<l to i.wi i < . 
with a letter of cre<lit for fi%'e hundrtnl thouKand dollars, for iho 
purchase of an - Within the ensuing nuauh thirty thousand 
men were raistni, and by the 12th of July were ctrpmixod into 
thirty-ei^^ht rrpmonts, pn^perly offi«vred. and fiiniiNhetl with all 
tho necesKar^' armH and • 'nents for the ftehl. Joiix A. 

Ptx and James S. >VAiwvt>>uiii were commissioDcd as major- 
generals. 

18. On the 19th ''f .\pnl the Seventh Retnmriu it .New 
York, with the Ki;;hth .Mjuwarlr- •• T' -imcnt, left the city 
for \Viuihin;rlon, aini<l the entli rx of a vjust crowd 
of citizens con^n'cpite*! to witnen.-^ iii« u .i-. ji-irture. An immense 
public meeting;, without distinction of party, was held at liiion 
Square CD tho su* "V... i.. r— '-Hidcil over by Mn* - ♦' 'iieral 



Scrrelanr of Stnie. — I'nition of rocrrhanu for rumpntmiae. — Fall of 
Fort Snrotrr. — Pniclnmation of the IVcstdont. — KmponM? of New York. 
— Thirty thooMuiU trt>opt in the field. — Mi^orfeoerab. — Uoiftini; sad 
march of troops. 



BATTLE OF BULL RUN. 297 

Dix, and the most unbounded enthusiasm prevailed. On Sun- 
day, the 21st, the Sixth, Twelfth, and Seventy-First city regi- 
ments, comprising three thousand men, departed for Washing- 
ton, accompanied to the wharves by almost the entire population 
of the city ; followed, on the 23d, by the Eighth, Thirteenth, and 
Sixty-Ninth regiments. 

19. Before the 1st of July the banking and other institu- 
tions and capitalists of the city of New York had advanced to 
the government upwards of five and a half millions of dollars 
for the support of the troops, and individuals had contributed 
another million. One hundred and twelve regiments, with one 
hundred and twenty thousand men, had been raised in the State, 
of which New York City contributed forty-seven thousand. 
During the j^ear the State had been enabled, through the patri- 
otic liberality of its wealthy citizens and numerous moneyed in- 
stitutions, to advance to the United States Government a loan 
of upwards of tvv'O hundred millions of dollars, one hundred and 
fifty millions of which was contributed by the bankers, capi- 
talists, and citizens of New York City. 

20. In the mean time the Confederacy had been augmented 
by the accession of the States of North and South Carolina, 
Virginia, and Tennessee ; its capital removed to Richmond, Vir- 
ginia ; its government completely organized ; its Constitution 
adopted, and its Congress in session. The preliminary battle of 
the campaign, at Bull Run, near Fairfax, Virginia, had resulted 
most disastrously to the national forces ; but the depression 
consequent upon this unexpected defeat was speedily sm-mount- 
ed, a new levy of twenty-five thousand troops for three years 
ordered by Governor Morgan, and volunteers flocked in thou- 
sands to the camp of General McClellan at Washington. 

21. In the vigorous prosecution of the war, no division of 
sentiment at this period existed. All parties united in the most 
determined eftbrts to crush a wanton and causeless rebellion ; 
and all previous political differences were forgotten in the patri- 
otic duties of the hour. The November elections passed over 
without excitement. Horatio Ballard, of Cortland, was elected 

City of New York. — General enthusiasm. — Advance of funds. — Pa- 
triotism of the people. — Progress of the Confederacy. — Removal of the 
capital to Richmond. — Battle of Bull Run. — New levy of troops. 



208 EIGHTH PERIOD. 

Secretary of State ; Lucius Robinson, of Chemtin?, Comptrol- 
ler; Daniel S. Dickinhon, of Broome, Attorney -(loianil ; Wii.- 
LiAM B. Lewis, of Kin^n, Treaaiirer ; William B. Tayuhi, of 
Oneida, State Knjjriiu-er oikI Survey«>r ; William B. WiiiiiiiT, 
of Stilliviin, Jiid;,'e of the Court of A|»iM«n|H ; and Fuanklin A. 
Ai ; t. of Krie, uud Benjamin F. 1 . . of Mudi«ju, Cautil 

Commissiouerc. 



c n A r T r n \- i i . 

Al>" V or n UOAK — I'tto*.!:!*^ AXD 

TloM or Govt !. -C'oMl IB 

Caxal. — DuAfT RioTi m N«ir Yokk. — Co!«gnMACT to ntiur 
THE TiTT. — KLcrrioa or Gotkrkor Fkktuk. — Amamixatiok or 
]'Ki:Ait»r.xT LiJicoui. 

I riiK I. 'lire ALiiin ajw- 1 on the fimt Tucsdjiy in 

Jantiarv, Ih eni«»r N!oit«;AN, aAer a l- i- 

tion of the < -m of the State, roca; <•<! the eventa 

of the j)i r, and con;rmt ulatcil the L 'iiro on the 

i«pirite<l and |«tnotir r- • of the State to the call of tho 

;r"Vfninu'nt for the •! • and |»re*«ervation <»f tho I'nion. Ho 

d his own ■ue<l I nn and thoMo of htn fellow- 

ii in tho j r ' :^:«»n of the war, and the devotion of tho 

hvcfi, fortune*, and uacnxl honor of thoir - Mienta to tho 

common 

2. Ihinnij this year the State continued it <• exertions 
in support of the war U*t the supprcHnion of the r< n. 
I'mler the successive calls of the President for six hundred 
thousand men, one hundred and twenty regiments were sent 
into the field, and upwartls of three and a h:iJf millions of dol- 
lars were paid for l)oimties to volunteers, carryin;; the State 
war expenditure, including town and county sulwcr s to 
twenty millions of dollars, 

3. Tho entire numlwr of reuiments sent to the field durni^ 
the preceding year was one hundred and fiftcfii, with 120,578 

tini. . :ofihc^ il uxx>pi asd IDOIMJ. 



GOVERNOR SEYMOUR'S MESSAGE. 299 

men, increased during the present year by recruits for the regu- 
lar army, volunteers, and enlistments for regiments of other 
States, to a grand total of two hundred and twenty-five thousand 
men. The losses of these regiments at the battle of Bull Run, 
and in other skirmishes during the year, amounted to about 
twenty thousand, killed, wounded, and prisoners. The entire 
force in the field was scattered over nine States in forty-three 
diff'erent brigades, and under the command of twelve generals 
of division, and bore an active part in every engagement with 
the rebels. 

4. At the opening of navigation in this year, the enlarged 
canal was completed throughout its whole extent. The total 
cost of this great work, including the interest on loans made for 
its construction, amounted to nearly fifty millions of dollars. 
The foreign exports from the State amounted to $ 111,000,000, 
and its imports to | 191,500,000. 

5. At the fall election, Horatio Seymour, of Oneida, the 
Democratic candidate, was re-elected Governor, and David R. 
Floyd Jones, of Suffolk, Lieutenant-Governor, by a majority of 
about ten thousand votes over Major-General James S. Wads- 
worth, and Lyman Tremain, the Republican candidates. 

6. Governor Seymour, in his messao-e to the Leg-isla- 
ture of 1863, dwelt at great length upon the violation, by 
CongTcss and the government, of the rights of the States and 
the security of persons and property ; traced the origin of the 
war to a pervading disregard of the obligations of the laws and 
of the Constitution, a disrespect for constituted authority, and 
local and sectional prejudices. A spirit of insubordination, he 
observed, had sapped the foundations of municipal. State, and 
national authority. 

7. The war, in his judgment, might and should have been 
averted ; but when its floodgates were oj)ened, the administra- 
tion was inadequate to grasp its dimensions or to control its 
sweep. The government was borne along with the current, and 
struggled as it best could with the resistless tide. Extravagance 
and corruption pervaded all its departments, followed by arbi- 
trary arrests in violation of the Constitution and the laws, dis- 

Completion of the Erie Canal enlargement. — Exports and imports. — 
State election. — Message of Governor Seymour. 



300 EI a II Til PKRIOD. 

regird of the ri^'hts nnd authority of tho State, Buppreasion 
of puMic journals, proc-laumtion of martial law, ami tho at- 
tempted cmaueiiiation of tl»e slaves. 

8. Th6 Union must be restored in its intcprity as it existed 
before the war. The situatutu im it stood must Iw accepted ; 
our annies in the field nuist )>e Kup{K»rtod, and all the constitu- 
tiunal requirements of the poveniment pn»mptly respondeil ta 
I'nder no circumstances could a division of the Union be con- 
txnled. Kvery policy of conciliation should l>c exhausteil, every 
inducement to j)eace olfentl, ever)' ri^cht of the South ^lamnteed, 
but tho nation mtist reuiain one and indivisible. Kx-Ciovemor 
EowiN I). MoROAN, early in Februan*. was elected United States 
Senator in place of Preston K iiiu'. whose tenn of oOice had < L 

9. The aspect of the national o»ntlict with the forces of the 
reU'llion, at tho ajmmencement of tho month of July of tliis 
year, was gloomy and discouraging in the extreme. The Army 
of the Potomac, under the « iiid successively of Uurnsido 
an«l li'x'ker, after re[>cttte<l and «i 'Us defeats at Vr* .*■ 
bur^ and (.'haiuvll<>rKville, had Iteen 1 t4> fall Uick to 
the north to cover lialtimorc and W'a on, upon which tho 
troops of Ocneral Ias* were nvirclun;; ; iimnt was held at liay 
before Vicksburp, and lUnks at Port lludMon ; lUisocrans inactive 
in Teimessoe ; and I ■ . on the eve of a general anc! ve 

• nient in the heart of Pennsylvania, displaced by .Miiuie. 

h>. At this momentous crisis, when the salvation and future 

destiny of the nation hunp upon the triumph of our arms, and 

another defeat would have hcen irretrievable ruin, the voice of 

faction was heard over our land fn»m many of its most trusted 

m 

public men, proolaimini; the inevitable failure of the war for tho 
Buppn^sion of the rel>ellion, casting reproach upon the President 
nml his counsoll«>rs, depnn-iatinp tho characters and conduct of 
the commanclers in the field, denouncing the civil and military 
authoritit^ f<»r their efforts to sustain and defend the ifumtrv, 
and exciting the reckless population of f»ur larpe cities ami towns 
to open r nee to the execution of the laws of Con;.Tes8 and 

the orders ot the President providing for additional recruits to 
our depleted army. 

Condition of public afTairs. — Naiiooal rcvenes. — Fsctiotu proceedings. 



DRAFT RIOTS IN THE CITY. 301 

11. On the 4th of July, the day succeeding the great victory 
of our arms at Gettysburg, and before intelligence of the result 
was known. Governor Seymour, in an address delivered before 
a large audience at the Academy of Music in the city of New 
York, spoke in most desponding terms of the condition of pub- 
lic aifairs, commenting freely upon the folly of persisting in 
a fratricidal war, entered upon without necessity, and which 
might easily have been avoided, and solemnly warning its sup- 
porters of the peril and wickedness of pursuing a course which 
might bring the evil of civil war into our own homes. 

12. On the 13th of July, pending the draft in the city, or- 
dered by the President under the Enrolment Act of Congress, a 
tremendous and formidable riot was commenced at the opening 
of the drawing at the corner of Third Avenue and Forty-Sixth 
Street, which convulsed and devastated the city for three days 
and nights without intermission. The military authorities were 
driven from their station, and compelled to close their books ; 
the police were overpowered or held at bay ; dwellings, stores, 
the Colored-Orphan Asylum, and several other public buildings, 
were burnt and plundered ; numerous brutal and barbarous mur- 
ders were committed ; and it was only by the final interposition 
of a body of United States troops, under the command of Major- 
Generals Canby and Dix and General Harvey Brown, that the 
riot was, on the fourth day, finally suppressed. 

13. On the second day of its continuance, and while it was in 
full activity. Governor Seymour reached the city, and after issu- 
ing his proclamation declaring the city in a state of insurrection, 
and commanding the restoration of order, immediately repaired 
to the City Hall, where he addressed an immense crowd of the 
rioters, informing them that he had sent the Adjutant-General 
to* Washington to confer with the authorities there for the sus- 
pension of the draft, requiring them to cease their outrages upon 
persons and property, and quietly to disperse, awaiting the re- 
sults of his interference in their behalf, upon which they might 
confidently rely. This appeal, however, was utterly unheeded ; 
and the Governor found himself compelled to invoke the inter- 
ference of the military authorities. 

Governor Seymour's Fourth-of-July address. — The draft riots in New- 
York City. — Continuance of the riots. — Interposition of Governor Seymour. 



302 EICIITII PEBIOa 

1 4. The amount of pru|)t'rty destroyed by the rioters on this 
occasion, for which the city wtu sulMteipiently held respoosihlo 
to the owneni, wtm vtilucd at about two miUiun doUarH, and nut 
fur from n thousand hves were estiniated to have l>een loHt. lt« 
furv was not ctmtined to the citv, but extendi'd into the Huliurtts 
on every hide, and to the princi|ml towns and cities on the Hud- 
son. Through the energetic action of the i icr, Joiix T. 
HoKKMAX, the chief leadeni in the riots were |»ron»|itly ti 
convictcxl, and si'ntenccd in aooordonoo with law. 

15. I'reKident Lincx>i.n having akI to suH|iend the d? 

on the aj-: ^n of CJuvenior SKYMurR, .Majoritenend Dix, on 

the MHh of July, addressed a c«)mniuii i to the latter, ro- 

(| aid, as ..inder-in-chief ul the mihtia of the 

State uf >ew York, in the enfureement of that measure. This 
having been di . forty-four rev s and Uitteries of ar- 

tiilerv were t>lacc-<i bv the I iles tiovenunent at the dis- 

• I • 

posal of (trnenil I>ix for tliat purjKMe ; luid a |>nH'laniation was, 
on the 18th of August, imued by CJovemor Skvmoik, jin»l. ^ 

all riotous demon*- us on the jiart of those o{>|M.wod to the 

draft, and d« the .scveriTit {>enalties against all per- 

conccnic<l in such unlawful pr The dnift was aoc- r i 

ingly resumed and cf! imut ftirther re^iHtancc. 

16. The numlter of v»»lunteors obtaine<l under State author- 
ity during the year was twenty-five thoumnd, and upwanls of 
thirty thousand n'l al reeniits were enlisted and dmfto<l 
under the authoritv of the 1 eninjent The 
whole numWr of troops raised in the State up to the end of 
the year was two hundred and ninety-three thousand, of which 
numl»er two hundred and thirty thousand were enlistments for 
the period of three years. 

17. On the same day with the termination of the great bat- 
tle of Grttysbtirg. Vick.sbui^ was surrendered to General flrant. 
Port Hudson was soon afterwards evacuated ; and the splen<li<l 
victories of ('hattanf)c^r», Chickamautra, and I>ookout Nfoiuit 
achieved during the autumn by (Irant, Shennan, Hooker, and 

Amount of propflrtfdr^*- ' 1 llreslosL — Rffiewal and eaforeaoMBt 

of th.- .!riift — VuU«inefit nf-,.r. — Vamberof Nrw York tmops 

in tl - iimdcrof \ Port IlatUon. — OatUcsof Chst* 

taoooga, Chirkamanga, and Lookout Mounuin. 



GOVERNOR SEYMOUR'S MESSAGE. 303 

their gallant associates, diffused a universal feeling of joy 
throughout the country. 

18. At the annual election in November, Chauncey M. De- 
pew, of Westchester, was elected Secretary of State, Lucius 
Robinson, Comptroller, and John Cochrane, of Xew York, At- 
torney-General, by majorities averaging about thirty thousand, 
together with large Kepublican majorities in both branches of 
the Legislature. 

10. The Legislature reassembled on the first Tuesday 
in January of the succeeding year. Governor Seymour, ^®^^' 
in his annual message, estimated the aggregate revenue of the 
State canals for the past three years at $17,722,284, leaving 
a balance of about fourteen and a half millions of dollars, after 
defraying all expenses of superintendence and repairs. He re- 
ported the agricultural and educational interests of the State 
as in a flourishing condition, notwithstanding the burdens im- 
posed by the war. 

20. The President and Congress, he observed, had, by the 
continued exercise of arbitrary power, supported by the army 
and navy, and acquiesced in by the people, effected a complete 
revolution in the government. National bankruptcy and ruin 
were imminent. The government in its persistent attempts to 
subjugate the South, in violation of its solemn pledges at the 
commencement of the war, had failed in the attainment of its 
ends ; and it remained for a wiser statesmanship to restore 
peace on a constitutional and conciliatory basis. 

21. A State tax of five and a quarter mills on each dollar of 
the assessed valuation of real and personal property was im- 
posed by the Legislature during its session, three fourths of a 
mill to be applied to the support of common schools, one and a 
quarter for general purposes, about two for bounties, and the 
residue for canal expenditures and works of internal improve- 
ment. 

22. On the 22d of April the Governor communicated a mes- 
sage to the Legislature, disapproving in strong terms of the 
joint resolution adopted by the two Houses providing that no 
distinction should be made in the currency in which the domes- 
Governor's message. — Revenue of the canals. — National affairs. — State 

tax. 



304 EIGHTH PFiaOD. 

tic and foreign holdeni of State stocks should be paid ; insist- 
in;^ that, whatever iirmn^'enient* nii^'ht be uuuie for the {Miyineut 
of the former, the faith of the State was irrovocal>Iy jilotl^Ki to 
redeem its ubhpitions to the latter in specie. These views of 
the Governor were assented to by tlio Unaucial authorities of 
the State, and carried into effect. 

23. Durinj^ the year, IG 1,004 men were MOt into the field by 
the State authorities, untier calln of the PrcHident ; making, in 
all, an aggregate of 437,700 contnlnite*! by the State since Uio 
comineucement of the wtir. A ppreheiiaioDB having l»een enter- 
tained of a rocum*nce of ri<»toii« proc* ^ in the city of New 
York at the annuxU Novemlwr election, " (General BiTLCR 
was ordered to the city, and a military lorou of aliout seven 
thoujouui men placed at his diM{xisal for the preftcn-ation of 
jmblic ortier. 

24. Prt^ident Li.xcoLN wis re-«leet0d hj m oyerwfaelming 
majority of the iMipuUir and • r^.il vote over Mi^or-Geueral 
(iK.utiiF. \\, \\k<'is.\jl\s the iKii - rat • i!. lidate; and Andrew 
JoiiN.H4>N, of Tennessee, elected Vioe-PrBadent by a similar vote 

•\r (.i •lUiB H. Pk.N'DLEToN, of Ohio. IUeUBBX £. FCKTOK, of 

Chautauque, was elected Clovemor, and TiuiMas G. Alvord, of 
Onondaga, Lieutenant-Governor, by a majority of about ten 
thouMand votes over Govem«ir SKYMoiRaud Lieutenant-Goyemor 
Jo.s'fx lioth branobesof the Legialature were strongly IWpub- 
lican. 

25. On the night of the 2.'nh of Nuvemlier, a daring attempt 
was made by incendiaries to set fire to the princijial hoteU and 
public btiildingn of the city of New York. lioliert Kennedy, 
<»no of the culpritH, was arrested, tried, and convicted by a 
court martial convened by Major-^teneral Dix, and sulim^>t)uently 
eiecute*!, after making a full confession of the conspiracy, on the 
part of a numlier of confetlemtea, to destroy the city. 

26. During the y«ir a sncccHHion of brilliant victories were 
achieved, under the command of Lieutenant -4 ;eneral Grant, on 
his march fr^>in the I'otomac to tlio Confederate capital ; At- 



Paymcnt of fhrriDu cr- ..; : . — In. ni.«,^ ©f raluiunrnu — Pn»i(lenttal 
election. — R« ;i of I*rr»i<lcni ; n, and cirrtion of Gorcmor Fcn- 

tnn. — Con : r y lo hum tho city of New York. — Kxrcution of Hobcrt 
Kcnncdr. — Evcnta of 1863 - 64. — Succotiioo of brilliant vtciorica. 



CLOSE OF THE GREAT REBELLION. 305 

lanta was captured by the irrepressible Sherman ; Tennessee 
was freed from invasion ; and Sherman, co-operating with 
Grant, commenced his famous march to the sea, terminating in 
the capture of Cokimbia and Charleston. 

27. Governor Fenton, in his annual message in January, 
1865, congratulated the Legislature on the prosperous con- 
dition of the State in all its departments, and on the brilliant 
prospects of a victorious termination of the war through the 
patriotic energy of the government and the signal ability of our 
commanders in the field. He transmitted the amendment to 
the National Constitution proposed by Congi'ess for the abolition 
of slavery, with an earnest recommendation for its prompt adop- 
tion. 

28. The spring opened with the defeat of the Confederate 
Army at Petersburg, Virginia, early in April, followed by the 
evacuation of Richmond, the dissolution of the Confederate 
government, the surrender of Lee at Appomattox Court-House 
on the 9th, that of Johnston at Raleigh on the lith, the dis- 
persion of the rebel array, and the flight and capture of the rebel 
President and his associates. 

29. In the midst of the universal rejoicings over these great 
events, the nation was astounded by the intelligence of the 
Assassination of President Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth, at 
Ford's Theatre in Washington, on the evening of the 14th of 
April. A heavy pall of mourning settled over the entire Union ; 
and while a fearful and speedy vengeance overtook the guilty 
perpetrators of this great crime, and a nation was following its 
martyred chief to his last resting-place, a new administration 
was inaugurated by the succession of Vice-President Andrew 
Johnson to the vacant presidential chair. 

30. At the fall election, Major-General Francis C. Barlow, 
of New York, was elected Secretary of State, Thomas Hill- 
house, of Ontario, Comptroller, and John H. Martindale, of 
Monroe, Attorney-General, with Republican majorities in both 
branches of the Legislature. 

Governor Fenton's message. — Defeat of the Confederate Army at Peters- 
burg. — Surrender of Generals Lee and Johnston. — Termination of the 
war. — Capture of Jefferson Davis. — Assassination of President Lincoln. 
— Succession of President Johnson. — State officers. 

20 



306 EIGHTH PKIilOD. 



C H A I» T K R V T T T . 

AnMijrisTRATiojf or GovERHok 1 — Vi»it of Pm ■ t Jonw- 

^o^ AM> Cahim:!, (fi:N»:K\i. »ii.\>i. and Aumihai. j \ju;a(<i t. — 

AlK>l'TIOS or TUB Foi KTI.I.NTII AMKM>Ml.!<r TO TIIK I'jtlTKD StaTE« 
Coj^BTITt'TIOS. — C'oSDITIOSr AJID FiXANCBS 0¥ THE StaTB. — CoX- 
BTITt'TIOXAL COXTKXTIOX. — FkKS ScIIOOUL — KuRMAL ScilOOUS. 
— CORXKIX UxiVkKAITT. — ElXCTIOX ur GOVKKXOR llorrMAN. — 

FirrcKXTU AMt^xuMiijiT. 

1. At the Msemlilinf^ of tho 1.4-;:>latnrc of 18CG, GoTcriior 

Fkxtom , after rccapitulutin^ the jrn»at event* of the preced- 
ing jear and U^mienn;; Iuh coiiin^t lu on tho tcniii- 

nutiun of tho war, submitt^xl a ^'cnoml exhiiiit uf tho condition 
of tho State, and rcoummendcd vurtoiis nicnjiuren of intcmid 
iniprovemeDt to the coniudemti(»n of the lA*^i8luttirc. He paid 
a high trihuto to the exertions, diiriiik' the war, of tiiu Trunteea 
and inanagen of tho Soldiers* I>o|iot in the citj of New York, 
the inemtiem of tho Sanitary ( oniiui8iiion« Tniou Loa^ie, and 
LadioM* Soldient' iCehef Association, and concluded by a few per- 
tinent remarks on the reconstniction of tho Union. 

2. The proceedings of tho Lcf^latnro were not marked by 
any in ' h of ^neral interest or im|Mirtanoe. 

3. l>(iru);; the session. President Johnson, wjlli >>«<ntAry 
Skward and other memlKTS of the <■ '" '"nd (»iiant, and 
Admiral Farragut, vu»ite«l the capiUi cay of New York, 
on their way to the detiication of a miiWi. ' to the memor}* 
of tho Ute Senator IIoiglam, of Illinois. 1 licir reception by 
tho State and municifMl authorities was churactehzed by tho 
usual formalities and honors. 

4. At the Noveml»er election, GoTomor Fextdn was rc-ciccted 
Governor, and Stewart L. Woodporp, of New York City, Lieu- 
tenant (Jovonior, by a majority of nl"»ut fourteen thousand over 
John T. Hoffman of New York and Kol>ert H. Pruyn of Alliaiiy. 
A majority of Kepublican memberB were eiectcwi to both branches 
of the Ix'^pslattire. 

5. Governor Fenton, in his me«a|,x' m J.uiuary, 1^* ~ 
called the attention of the Legialaturo to the nece**--*! 

Ooremor's me»imec. — Ke-elcction of Goremor FcQton, ami aleetion of 
Biewsrt L. Woodford m Licutenant-Gorcnior. — Governor's 



CANALS AND SCHOOLS. 307 

of providing additional canal facilities by the construction of an 
enlarged tier of locks on the line of the Oswego and Erie Canals, 
from tide-water to the Lakes, admitting the passage of steam- 
vessels of from five to six hundred tons' burden. This proposi- 
tion was favorably received by the Legislature, and the neces- 
sary steps were taken for its adoption. 

6. The Governor also recommended the adoption of the pro- 
posed Fourteenth Amendment to the National Constitution, 
providing for the reconstruction of the government of the States 
recently in rebellion, the abolition of slavery, and equality 
of rights to every citizen of the Republic. The surplus canal 
receipts up to the present time were stated at upwards of twenty 
millions of dollars, applicable chiefly to the payment of the 
canal debt, the reduction of which was steadily progressing. 
There were, in the State, 24,527 manufacturing establishments, 
with an aggregate capital of $227,674,187, and a productive 
return of $463,603,877. A bill providing for the call of a 
Convention for the amendment of the State Constitution was 
passed, providing for an election of delegates in April and the 
assembling of the Convention early in the succeeding June. On 
the first Tuesday in February, Roscoe Conkling, of Oneida, 
was appointed United States Senator in place of Ira Harris, 
whose term had expired. 

7. During the session of the Legislature of this year, an 
act was passed on the recommendation, and chiefly through the 
exertions, of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Mr. 
Rice, increasing the State tax for the support of common 
schools from three quarters of a mill to one mill and a quarter 
on each dollar of the valuation of real and personal estate, and 
declaring all the common schools of the State, including the 
various academical departments devoted to the instruction and 
preparation of teachers, and the State Normal Schools, free to 
all pupils availing themselves of their benefits. 

8. Additional Normal Schools were now authorized to be es- 
tablished in Fredonia, Chautauque County; Geneseo, Livingston 
County ; Brockport, Monroe County ; Cortlandville, Cortland 
County ; Pottsdam, St. Lawrence County ; and Buffido, Erie 

Enlarged locks on the Erie and Oswego Canals. — United States Senator. 
— Free and Normal Schools throughout the State. 



308 EIGHTH PEIUOD. 

County ; in addition to the State Nonnnl Soh«x>l nt the capital, 
and the Trinuiry NonuiU and Training School at Osweu'o, 
whicli had bet»n orp»ni/e«l in 1> 

9. On the 4th of June tht < ivention M- 
semhletl at the Capitol in AlUmy, and orpinized by the election 
of William A. Wii . of Fmnklin, aa Treiiident, and Litiif.u 
Caldwell, of Chemuiu. i- >< ulary. The usuid conunittecs 
having been appointe<l fi>r the pi\'j«inition of l»u»inttui, the Con- 
vention addretJHcd itijelf to tlie |*erfonimnce of the duties de- 
volving u])on it 

10. The rcorKanlzation of the Judician* oc la larjjt) 
Bharc of its S and »1 ' much able dif*^*UK«ion. 
The n 'D of liie tnuichiHc, tin* |»owen» and dutien of the 
Executive and the !/i»jifiKlatuiv, and variouH other pnnjom-d 
nioilificationH of the Coimtitution, were l^'retl ; and the 
semiou was pn>li»n^<d to the tvr u{ lite year. 

11. In July and .\ ' the Anit-Ki-nt tliMturltances apiin 
l»n)ke out in Allwnv r»»uiitv, rendering it neceasarA' to call out a 
Btroiif; military force for their n*prfHMii»n. By thiH prompt action 
of the executi%'o autb all further opftotiition to the coll 
tion of rents from tJie • Mts was suppresMxl, 
and the phnci{ial o!* uuU committed for t; 

12. At the NovciiiU'r t-Kviiuu, IIomkr A. Nrix>n. of I)ui«.l»- 
e«| was « n* of State ; William F. Allkx, of 
Oswego, Coll i-r y hiuI Markiiall R Ciiamplain, of Alle- 
gany, Atton»c\-(.fneral- A miyority of the memliem ■' • 1 
to the Assembly were Democrats, while the Senate rcruiuiicd 
Itij'uMitaiL 

1.1. The I/Ou'»*lHture reassembled on the first T ' v 
in January, 180^<. William Hitciiman, of New \ 
was elected S|x-jiker. (lovcmor Fkxtox informed the Ia 
laturo that the debt of the State, de<luctin^ the lialuiuo 
of the sinkin^r fnnd for the dificharjje of the canal debt, was 
$44,114,.'>'J2. The atrxntvate valuation of its real and personal 
estate was stated at $ 4,.j<K),fM»0,(X>0, that of real estate alone 
being estimated at upwanU of nine hundTtnl millions. Of the 

Consittutional Coaroition. — Ri^ncwsl of Anti-Rmt dbtttrhsncn. — 8tata 
oflkvra. — Gorernor't meMsgt. — State debt. — Vsluaiioa of rod and pcr> 
■onal oftate. 



THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, 309 

entire area of the State, consisting of 28,297,142 acres, sixteen 
million of acres were under cultivation. 

14. The amount of public funds applicable to common-school 
education was about one and a half millions of dollars, to which 
Vi^ere added, from local taxation and other sources, about seven 
and a half millions, making an aggregate of about nine millions 
of dollars. About five millions of dollars were annually paid 
for teachers' wages ; nearly' two millions for the purchase of 
sites and the building of school-houses ; twenty-five thousand 
for school libraries ; and upwards of two hundred thousand for 
apparatus, text-books, and supplies for the various schools. 
Early in February, Abram B. Weaver, of Oneida, was elected 
Superintendent of Public Instruction in place of Victor M. Rice. 

15. The Constitutional Convention reconvened early in Janu- 
ary at the City Hall in Albany, which had been placed at its 
disposal during the session of the Legislature, and resumed its 
discussions and deliberations. Various proposed amendments 
to the Constitution were considered and adopted, and the entire 
instrument, as modified, reported to the Convention for its final 
adoption and submission to the people through the action of the 
Legislature. 

16. By the provisions of the proposed Constitution, the right 
of suffi-ao-e was conferred on all male inhabitants of the age of 
twenty-one years and upwards, w^ithout distinction of color ; the 
payment of the Canal and other State debts secured ; the term 
of '^oflPice of Senators extended to four years ; the Assembly in- 
creased to one hundred and thirty-nine members ; the Court of 
Appeals organized with a Chief-Justice and six Associate Judges : 
the existing Supreme Court organization retained, with certain 
additional provisions for the despatch of business, — the judges 
to be chosen by the people, and to hold their ofiices for fourteen 
years, or until they attain the age of seventy years. Provision 
was also made for submitting to the people, in 1873, the question 
whether such judges should continue to be elected, or whether 
the position should be filled by appointment. The remaining 
provisions were substantially the same as those of the Constitu- 
tion of 1846. 



Educational statistics. 



310 Eianrn period. 

17. During the summer of this yeiir, the Cornell Univemity, 
the charter of which wnn ohtnineil in 18G2, and which wuji en- 
dowed by ('«»n;,aeii8 with the avuiU of one million of acres of 
public laniLs, and by lil)eral benefactions fmm it« founder, Kziia 
CoRNKLi^ chiefly for the puqjoso of a practical etlucation in agri- 
cultuml and meeluuucai science, was u|M.'ned under favorable 
auMpic€*s at Ithaca. 

18. At the Novembor elactioo, John T. Hofphan, Mayor of 
New York, wat elected GoTenior, and Aixen C. Bkacu, of Krie, 
Lieutenant-<iovenior, by a majority of nearly thirty thousand 
votes over John A. (iriswold, of IWnsscdiier, and the KepublicAU 
canchilate for Lieutenant -< Jo venior. The lU'publicans, however, 
secured a majority of the I>»jn«lature, Ulyhsbb S. (jRaxt, of 
Illinois, was elected President, nnd StiirrLKU ()<>lfax, of Indiuna, 
Vice-President, of the I'nr ites, by lar^o electond umjorities, 
over Horatio Seymoi r, of New Yt»rk, and Krask P. Blaiii, of 
Missouri, the caudidutcs of the Democratic ]>arty. 



CHAPTER IX. 

Apmixibtkatiox or Gotbnxus lIorrnAK. — Fi!«akck« axd Co^rntriOK 
or TUB Stats — ('«mMoM .*^ iiim»u<i. — Piblic >■ - . (;«ir. 

rHM^iEjcT <»r Nbw V«»im Citt. — UtuiBCTiox or in.. .>.. ^ i. wi,»TiTL'- 

I J'.X. — JCUICIABT or TUB St*TE. 

1. Governor Hoffman, m his annual mennge to the b^i^- 

lature of 18G0, reviewed the fniancial condition of the State 
and that of its various liu^nin* and charitable institu 
tions, and sup^csted such alter and modifications of the 

laws as in his judgment the public iiitercet required. The ImU- 
ance due on the State debt, after applying the avails of the 
sinking fund, was $ 38,XG4,448.74, and would proUbly be cx- 
tiogiiished within a few years. 

2. The CommoD-Scbool Fund amounted to $ 10,.'>00.000, of 



:i of Gorcmor lIofTman and Ueatensnt-Oorenior Beach. — Elec- 
tion of l * rBs k ie n t and Virc-Pirsidrnt. — Ixvi-lature of 1869. — Goreroor 
Hoflhian't meaisge. — Finances of the btate. 



COMMON SCHOOLS. 311 

which five and a half milUons had been appHed during the past 
year to the payment of teachers' wages, $2G,726 for Ubraries, 
$ 234,432 for school apparatus, $ 64,765 for the support of col- 
ored schools, and two millions of dollars for school-houses and 
sites. Nine hundred and seventy-one thousand five hundred 
children were educated in eleven thousand seven hundred and 
thirty-one districts during the year, and twenty-seven thousand 
teachers employed, of whom nearly twenty-two thousand were 
females. Upwards of one million volumes were in the several 
school libraries. 

3. On the second Tuesday in Febniary, Reuben E. Fenton, 
of Chautauqua, was elected United States Senator in place of 
Edwin D. Morgan, whose term of office had expired. The 
Fifteenth Amendment to the National Constitution, prohibiting 
to the several States all discrimination in the exercise of the 
elective franchise on account of color, was adopted by the Legis- 
lature, and a bill passed for the submission of the new Consti- 
tution to the people at the ensuing fall election, the suffrage 
and judiciary clauses to be separately voted upon. 

4. During the session an important change was made in the 
Public-School system of the city of New York. The Board of 
Commissioners, consisting of three members, chosen by the peo- 
ple from each of the seven districts into which the city had been 
divided by a previous legislative enactment, was disbanded, and 
a new board substituted, to consist of twelve persons to be ap- 
pointed by the Mayor, the political majority of the city to be 
represented by seven and the minority by five members, and to 
hold their respective offices until the year 1871, after which 
their successors were to be elected by general ticket, preserving 
the same relative political aspect. 

5. At the charter election in December of the previous year, 
the late District-Attorney A. Oakey Hall had been elected 
Mayor of the city in place of Governor Hoffman. Twelve Com- 
missioners of Common Schools were accordingly appointed by 
him under the act referred to, and early in May organized 
themselves as a board by the election of Richard L. Larre- 
MORE as President, and William Hitchman, late Speaker of 
the Assemblv, as Clerk. 

Statistics of the Common Schools. 



312 EIGHTH PERIOD, 

6. The financial afTairn of the citv had l)ecn committed to the 
charjre of Mattiikw T. Uuksxax a« Comptroller, and Pctku li. 
SwKKXKY an ('h.uulH.'rlaiii, hv whom thev were ahlv and faith- 
fullv adminihtered. Samuki. \\. (Iahvix, late an AH»<K.*iate Jud^re 
of the SujKTior Court, waa api)ointed Diutrict- Attorney in j)l;u-e 
of Mayor Hali- 

7. At the Novcml>er election, the l>em«K'ratic State otVuors 
were re-< . i by a maiorit v of upwitrds of twenty thouMand 
votea, toj^ether with a li. ^ y in Uuh hruncheu of the Ixj^HJa- 
ture. The provinion in the new ConHtitntion conferring; equal- 
ity of Mutfrain; on the blackii wajs r^ 1 hy a heavy vote, tuK 
wax abk> the Conxtitution itself, with th< >.ujle exception of 
th«' nrtielo on the JiuliciarA', which wax incorpomtetl into the 

^ 1 ax Article Sixth. 

. . 8. The I> are axxemhle<l on the 4th of Januar\-, and 

William IIiti hmax, of New York, wiui re-elected Sjieaker 
of th© A««»«omhly. (iovenior Huffman, in his mexMaf;i\ xtateil 
the h.. duo on the State debt on the 3(»th of Septemlter 

l.i^t, the en«l of the fiHod year, at |t 34.81 . of which $ 12,- 

72r),211 exixted previoux to the I^' ii. and the renminin;^ 

$ J2,(MK>,(K»0 wax the unjsiid jMirtion of the Iwuuty debt in- 
curre«l durinjj the war. He antioi|»atcd it* entire cxtinguiah- 
ment within ei^ht ywirx. 

9. The StJite tax levie<l diiriti;; the your amounted to ftg millx 
on the dollar, on the total voliuition of the real and iwrRoiml 
extate of the State, di.Htribute<l ax followx : 1| millx for tchoolx, 
{ of a mill for canaK 2| for Umntiex, and \\ for the ^ne- 
ml oxiHMixex of the State ^venmient ; amoimtin^' in all to 
$ !o.4«i3,17*J.33. The canolx yielded a xuqtluH revenue during 
the year of $ 3.8r)4. 1*44. :•'.'. 

10. The value and importjince of tho caiuUs to the liest and 
h Lrhext interextx of tho State were dwelt u|K>n, not only in refer- 
ence to our own interextx, but to thoxc of the Kuropean Statex, 
wliich were Iv^rinning to direct their attention to thix mode of 
iutonial improvenjent, TIh\v were, in hix j iit, expecially 
serviceable as a check upon etorbitant charj^'ex of railroad cor- 



Mix^tin); of the Lctn^lAtorc. — Govcmor't OMnago. — FinjuioQi of the 
State — Cxnal rereaiMX. 



COMMON SCHOOLS. ^ ' 313 

porations in the transportation of merchandise and agricultural 
products. 

11. More than six millions of dollars had been paid during 
the year for teachers' wages in the Common Schools, and nearly 
two and a half millions for school-houses, sites, repairs, and 
furniture. There w^ere in the State nearly 1,500,000 chil- 
dren of school age, one million of whom attended the public 
schools during some portion of the year, and 26,000 were in 
private schools. 4,200 pupils were in attendance at the six Nor- 
mal schools. The number of school-houses in the State was 
11,698. 

12. "These facts," the Governor observes, " show the gi-eat 
proportions to which our common-school system has grown. 
There may be defects in it, but, taken as a whole, it commands 
and receives the hearty commendation and the cordial support 
of the great body of the people. Under our form of government, 
in which the voice of the people is so jDotential, the State has a 
direct interest in so educating the masses that they may in- 
telligently understand their duty as citizens ; and no tax should 
be paid more cheerfully than that which enables all, without 
reference to station or condition, to acquire the rudiments of 
a good English education." 

13. The number of savings' banks in the State was stated at 
one hundred and twenty-eight, with an aggregate capital of 
% 180,000,000. The subjects of prison discipline and insane 
hospitals were dwelt upon at considerable length. The number 
of immigrants during the year, landed at the port of New York, 
was 260,000, being an increase of 46,314 over the year 1868. 
Special legislation was discountenanced, and several recom- 
mendations were submitted for general purposes. 

1 4. A complete revision of the statutes of the State was recom- 
mended, as were also amendments of the Registry and Election 
Laws, the Criminal Code, the Excise Laws, and the various pro- 
visions for commissions in the cities. The message closed with 
a general and very able discussion of the legislation of CongTess 
on federal affairs, the tariff, and national finances. 

Common schools. — Savings' banks. — Prison discipline. — Insane hospi- 
tals. — Immigrants. — Special legislation, — Registry and Election Laws. — 
Excise Laws. — City commissions. — National affairs. 



314 EI GUT II PEldOD. 

15. The report of the AdjutAnt-Geucrol Bliowod tlmt the 
inihtia or " NutioniU (luiird " of the State miml>crttl 25,085 otii- 
cen* aud privuten, coiapriHing three rcgimeutn, one buttulioii, and 
four troopa of cuvidry, three IwitUiUona aud eij^ht huttcriea of 
artilKrv, und forty-seven rvgiuieutH and three UitUiUonfl of in- 
fantry. A re<luction of the force to 20,000 wa» onlcre<l hv the 
last 1. lire. ai»d three regime nt« had already l»ecu muHtcred 

out of ber\'it . . 

10. Joint reBohitioius nt ftn curly iK-riiKl of the BCHiuon were 
intn>duce*i aud jMi&iied by a btnct party vote, withdrawing the 
consent of the State to the Fiftt-enth C'onKtitiitii»nal Amcnd- 
nient, and bdU introduced for the acconiplishiuent of the va- 
rious ■ ■* recomuiendcd in the liovcmor's inehsagc. 



National GnanL — FifWrath Convtitutional Amrn^lrr.mt. 




View in Central Park. 



CONCLUSION. — GENERAL RECAPITULATION. 

1. Having now completed our labors, we turn to a general 
survey of the ground over which we have travelled, and a com- 
prehensive summary of the gi^and results which daring a period 
of about two centuries and a half have been accomplished within 
the domains of what is now not improperly termed the " Empire 
State " of the American Union. 

2. From a pathless wilderness, trodden only by the scattered 
and stealthy footprints of a savage and barbarous race, we have 
seen it, at first by slow degrees, and then by a rapid progress, 
covered by the traces of a civilization which has converted the 
deep primeval forests into cities, towns, villages, and flourish- 
ing farms, the abodes of luxury, wealth, refinement, and enjoy- 
ment. 

3. From a little handful of emigrants from Holland, number- 
ing less than a hundred souls, gathered in two small and ill- 



3 1 G COSCLi'SIOy. — GESEILiL RFXAPITVLA TIOS. 

defended fort« and blockhouses, Prj.ir.ited from each other by 
an interval of a hundrttl and fifty miles, and surrounded by 
forty thousiind Kav;i;,'tH, we have seen a jx»|)ulution of nearly 
four millions of inhabitants up, clearing the vast wilder- 

ness fn>m the ocean to the L u. , and driving Ufore them its 
primcvid jtosseasors, until v, .u . dy a tnice of their former great- 
ness remains. 

4. We have witnc«ed the failure of the well-meant cfr«»rts of 
the ^ts to impress u|x>n the virgin soil of the 
western continent the comj«initivfly indolent and apathetic 
civilization of the " fatherland," with all its Ktunly honesty and 
indomitable integrity, and the reins of empire seired \\\to\\ by 
Uio stronir hands and Htout hearts of the Knglish invaders, 
ul...M« \ , had already ? led the bleak and kirren 

m 

coasts of New I 1. 

5. Then ensue<i the long and piUantly maintaincnl hi- 

the port of the new i -d and stn-ngthentni bv ili i 

pre<lece»soni who«o supr had so recently •" •!. 

to asjwrt and \ n thtir rtiis, and pnwlcK'LS 

ogainst a ' mt ai "rti^l and sustaineti by tlio 

weidth. |>ower, and of the k^' ^'' ' -'"^ '"^^ liaughty 

govenunent in the Ulti World. 

6. Through a protracte<l series of diHuullieH, eml«armsKments, 
and ol>stacli-8 the aroused spirit of lilierty steadily maintai 

its ground against the most fearful o<lils, until af\er a century 

of < d vasMjdage, continually protesting and cont- 

ft iho n- • invasion of their most cherishe<] ri^l»lH, 

the huuramvitl Iwr the complete <li»rupt ion of the. 

ago under which they had so long and im|«tienli_v Mr 

and the thirteen uniteil r " ^ oAer a war of seven years wan 

their fonnidablo oppressorb, became a freo imd independent 

nation. 

7. In this great contest fur national cxi • . New York led 
the van, and precipitated by her l>oldness and tictermined ■ v 
the inevitable issue. It was in her nietn>jiolis that the htumy 
and irrepressible ** Sons of Liberty ** hurle<l defiance against the 

minions of t>-ranny and oppression ; in her tribunals of o 

that the freetlom of the press was triuniphantly vindu ,»i< <» ; 
and in defence of her towering •' Lil>erty Tole," tluit, on the 



TWO WARS WITH GREAT BRITAIN. 317 

heights of Golden Hill, the first blood of the Revolution was 
shed. 

8. And when the contest came, and the trained battalions of 
European conscripts, commanded by the experienced veterans of 
English warfare, overran our land, it was the Provincial Con- 
gress of New York which, driven from town to town by the in- 
vading army, steadily and unflinchingly rallied the brave de- 
fenders of their homes and hearths to the bloody battle-field, 
sustained their sinking spirits amid reverses, privations, and the 
severest suffering, and, while exhausting their means in provid- 
ing for the wants of their own citizens in the field, freely pledged 
their resources for the future in behalf of the common cause. 

9. Independence achieved, and its cost to be met in the midst 
of divided and distracted counsels, with a government hastily 
improvised and utterly unable to command obedience to its dic- 
tates except by consent of each of its members, it was New 
York, the wealthiest and most powerful of all, and, looking only 
to her own interest, best able to dispense with any other gov- 
ernment than her own, that promptly came forward, through 
her most accomplished citizens, to secure the adoption of a Con- 
stitution which indissolubly linked her destinies with those of 
her sister States. 

10. Then, and not till then, when, through her unwavering 
patriotism and noble magnanimity, the Union was placed upon 
a permanent basis and the future existence of the nation se- 
cured, did she turn her attention to the development of her 
own resources, the administration of her own government, and 
the organization of suitable institutions for the promotion and 
advancement of her material, moral, civil, and social well-being. 

11. During this period three great statesmen and patriots 
towered prominently over all their associates, directing, guiding, 
and energizing public affairs, and contributing beyond all others 
to the great results of the war of Independence. George Clin- 
ton, the first Governor, during a period of over twenty years, 
by his ability, sterling integrity, and indomitable perseverance, 
surrounded by innumerable difiiculties and embarrassments, 
successfully conducted the Ship of State to its destined harbor, 
and laid the foundations for its future greatness. 

12. Alexander Hamilton, by his transcendent talents, elo- 



3 1 8 CONCLUSION. — GENERAL RECAPITULA TION, 

quonco, and cncrgr, threw himself into the breach apiinst tlic 
fiercest waves of faction ; and in conjunction with Joiix Jay 
Baved the Cunstitutiun, and with it the Union, fnuu the ini 
niincnt |)erili4 by which it wjw hurroundiHl. I'jMin the orj;fnniza 
tion of the govemnicnt, l»oth thetk? diKtinjrt>i«hcd men renderiMi 
the nuMt important servicen to their countr}', in its civil ami 
di|)loiimtic Bcrvico ; and their memorv will ever be chcrishc d :\^ 
the founders and 8up[>orters of the American I'nion. 

13. (Jovemor (.'lixtdN availed himself of the earliest op 
portunity to rec<immenil the cHtabliNhment of a common -hcIhkiI 
system, and the initiation of metiiiures for developin<; the re 
sources and adding to the wealth of the State by the improve 
ment of its uavigiible waters and their connection by artifu ial 
canals, liiith those meoBiirM were destined to be aAerwanls 
fully realized through the genius and executive ability of his 
grctit kinsman and succcKsor, Dk Witt Clixtox. 

II. At this time — l»etwccu 1790 and 1S(K) — the entire 
population of the State did not exceed fi%'e hundred thtaitiand, 
chii'flv t*oncentrate*l in the citv of New York, and on the Iwinks 
of the Ilu«l?st»n and .Mohawk. The • ive and fertile vallevs 

and plains of the wi'strni section of the State, fn>m t'tica to 
Lake Erie, were still an nTibroken wildeniess, and a few scat- 
tered handets only div« : i the region between Albany and 
the sources of the M^himk. 

15. The a<!mii) -ns of D.vnikl D. Tompkivs and Db 
Witt Ci.ixtoX, extendinir. with a briof interval, over a period 
of nearlv twenty veam, i the most brilliant f»ortion 

* mm 

of the annals of the State. Tho fonnor by his per . de- 

vote<l patriotism and sclf-sa« rtions. rnrried us tri- 

umphantly through the second war with (Jreat ! i ; and tho 

latter, by his commanding talents and far-se* .: ., -'it. inanship, 
laid the foundations of our miignihcent common-school i», 

and conceive<l nnd carrietl into execution, amid the most for- 
midable olistaclcs, the greatest work of internal imj)rovement 
the world luul ever known. 

16. Their distinguished sucoemora, Vax Blrkx, >fAllCT, Siw- 
ARD, and Wright, and tho more recent occupants of the 
executive chair, built n(»i>Iy u|>on these solid foundations of 
greatnou and wealth, enlarging, expanding, and atlumiiig tho 



DISTINGUISHED MEN. 319 

superstructure of political and social prosperity ; steadily de- 
veloping and applying the immense resources of the State in 
all its departments, and maintaining its high position and 
character as the imi^erial member of the confederacy. 

17. Nor must the long and splendid array of her jurists, 
legislators, and statesmen occupying subordinate positions in 
the executive administration of the State, and representing her 
interests in the councils of the nation, be overlooked in this 
connection. The illustrious names of Spexcer, Kent, Van 
Ness, Platt, Thompson, Woodworth, and Yates in her earlier, 
and Savage, Sutherland, Marcy, Nelson, Bronson, and Cowen 
in her later judiciary, adorned the bench of the Supreme Court; 
while her Cliancery was graced by the comprehensive learning 
and great ability of Lansing, Kent, Jones, and Walworth. 

18. In the ranks of the legal profession were to be found the 
great names of Hamilton, Burr, Van Vechten, Van Buren, 
Thomas Addis Emmett, Elisha Williams, Benjamin F. Butler, 
John C. Spencer, Joshua A. Spencer, Samuel Stevens, Am- 
brose L. Jordan, Ogden Hoffman, James T. Brady, James W. 
Gerard, Francis B. Cutting, Charles O'Conor, Charles P. 
KiRKLAND, and William M. Evarts, with a long list of contem- 
poraries and successors worthy of such high association. In 
her legislative halls were to be heard such men as Clinton, 
Spencer, Young, Root, Van Buren, Sharp, Ogden, Livings- 
ton, DuER, Tallmadge, Suydam, Wright ; and, at a later 
period, Seward, Seymour, Humphrey, Bradish, Patterson, 
HuLBURD, Cutting, King, and a host of others of greater or 
less ability, influence, and worth, 

19. In the Senate of the United States she has been worthily 
represented by Philip Schuyler, Aaron Burr, Gouverneur 
Morris, Obadiah German, Nathan Sanford, Martin Van 
Buren, Charles E. Dudley, Nathaniel P. Tallmadge, Rufus 
King, De Witt Clinton, William L. Marcy, Silas Wright, 
John A. Dix, Daniel S. Dickinson, William H. Seward, 
Preston King, Hamilton Fish, Ira Harris, Edwin D. Mor- 
gan, RoscoE Conkling, and Reuben E. Fenton. In the House 
of Representatives, John W. Taylor, for two terms, filled the 
Speaker's chair, and among the delegations from New York a 
long list of eminent and distinguished names might be cited. 



:\2i) COSCLL'SIOS. — GESERAL nECAriTl'LATIOX. 

20. In tlie Cabinet of the United States, Alexavder II.vyiL- 
Tox, Mautix Van Bliikx, John C. Spkscer, Smitu Thompson, 

GlDlX)N (JRAXGKII, JaMFS K. PaULDIXO, WlUJAM I* MaRlT, 

Bkxjamin F. Ik'TLKii, William H. Seward, William M. Kvaht^, 
ami IIamiltus Fwu, have occupied viiriotui pomtioiui. Two Vrv$- 
idtnts unlv, Mahtis Van Ulhen and Mili^vri) Fillmoiie, haro 
filh'd the executive clmir of the nation ; while the Vice-rresidemy 
hiiH lH?cn conferred u|K.n Aaiu)X Blhii, (Jixuoe Clinton, Daxiu. 
!>. Tt)MrKiN«, Mahtin Van Bliiex, an«l Millard Fiixmi»uil 

21. On the lK?nchof the Sis C«.urt of the United States 
JtuiN Jay wa« the firet ChiefJiiAiice, and Smith Thomp»i>n and 
Samuel Neuh4)N have heUl the |Mwiitiou of AuBociate J 

John Jay, Martin Van Biiuin, W.i>! n Iuvino, i.t<. i: 

Uaniroit, I>aniel I). Barnard, Jameh W ai^>n Weuu, John A. 
Dix, and I' ¥i SicKLtai, have <>■ ' ' ' ' limiatio 

]M»Mitions OM .MiiiiftlerM !*leni|«'* 'V to n*c c*<urii» oi i.- ' 1, 

Fnuice, Sjinin, and Bnnuiia, auu iu iho S».iuth Aineriaui Mau x 

22. In the annv wo Imvc the illn ' h naincH of Mont- 
r.oMERY and SiiiiYLER, Jame» Clinton, iiijikimkii, McDouoall, 
Lamii, Sl'ujvan, and Williht, of Ilevi>lutionurv n y ; Ma- 
foMu, Brown, Wool, the Van Uen.s8E1^^lh, UuLUi, Pike, 
and Porter, who <' * 1 theiuBclveii in the war of 
1812: W-.i. antl Wuiau tn t r with Mexico; and Waim*- 
worth, Uix, SicKuat, Siuei^ rii. Baru>w, Slocum, and 
Jon EH during the Rebellion. 

23. Ainonj; the moHt di«tin;:u '-ln-tl of the Hcientitic men who 
have shod an enduring luHtre ujkiu their native or adopted State 
i; ly he namt-il Hni, Samiel L. Mitchiox, T. Romeyn Bbik, 
Vaixntine .Mott, and John W. Francih, of the medical pn>fc8- 
sion ; Pn)fes8f>n» Hall, Kmmon.h, Betk, Torret, Mather, Holuh, 
and I)e Kay of the jrc<»lo^cal, chemical, and natund -history 
d. lartment ; Francis Lieber, Thomai* Kwbank, and Professor 
1 Iks BY, now in char^ of the Smithaotiian Institute at Waali- 
in^'ton. 

24. Robert R. Livingston and Robert Fl^lton, as the great 
inventors of steam navi;;ation ; Samuei. F. B. Mor^b, as the in- 
ventor of the ma^^ietic tolejnTiph ; and Cyrus W. Field, as the 
indefatipible pioneer of the ocean tcle^^ph, — will long Iw n>- 
meud)ered as great public benefactors ; and the unwearied exer- 



DISTINGUISHED MEN. 321 

tions of Hexry O'Eeilly in the construction of telegraphic lines 
throughout every portion of the Union have conferred a lasting 
benefit u23on the civilization of the age. 

25. In the ranks of literary celebrity and success, Washington 
Irving occupies the foremost place ; while William Cullen 
Bryant, Fitz-Green Halleck, Joseph Rodman Drake, George 
P. Morris, Nathaniel P. Willis, Alfred B. Street, and Phebe 
and Alice Carey as poets ; James Fennimore Cooper, James 
K. Paulding, Donald G. Mitchell, and Richard B. Kimball 
as novelists ; and George Bancroft, J. Romeyn Broadhead, 
E. B. O'Callaghan, and Henry B. Dawson as historians, — have 
attained a high reputation in their respective departments of 
literary effort. 

2G. Among the most influential conductors of the public 
press — that great organ of public opinion — may be enumer- 
ated Solomon Southwick, Jesse Buel, Edwin Croswell, Thur- 
Low Weed, George Dawson, and William Cassidy, of Albany ; 
and John Peter Zenger, James Cheetham, William L. Stone, 
Charles King, Mordecai M. Noah, William Coleman, Horace 
Greeley, William Cullen Bryant, Henry J. Raymond, James 
Watson Webb, James Gordon Bennett, Manton Marble, James 
and Erastus Brooks, Charles A. Dana, and Joseph Howard, 
Jr., of New York. 

27. The church has been adorned by the lives and eloquence 
of Archbishops Hughes and McCloskey of the Catholic faith ; 
Bishops HoBART, Potter, De Lance y. Cox, and Drs. Vinton, 
Muhlenberg, Dix, Tyng, Taylor, Wainwright, and Andrews, 
of the Episcopal; Bishops Asbury, Hedding, Emory, and Janes, 
the eloquent young Summerfield, and Silas Comfort, of the 
Methodist ; Henry Ward Beecher, and Drs. Spring, Storrs, 
Adams, Sprague, Campbell, and Potts, of the Presbyterian and 
Congregational ; Drs. Welch, Burchard, Gillett, and others, 
of the Baptist ; Drs. Wyckoff, Bethune, and Yermilye, of the 
Dutch Reformed; Dr. Chapin, Stephen R. Smith, and Dolphus 
Skinner, of the Universalists ; Drs. Dewey, Bellows, Osgood, 
and Frothingham, of the Unitarians ; and many others less 
widely known and distinguished, but not less worthy of remem- 
brance and high regard in their humbler fields of labor. 

28. Conspicuous among the eminent philanthropists who have 
21 



322 CONCLUSION, — GENERAL RECAPITVLA TION. 

(iiatinguiHhcd themselves for their Ul)cral public, private, and 
social lH.*ncfuctioii8 in the interests of charity, huuuuiity, aiul 
the advancement of science and civilization, may l>c found the 
names of Lkakkl, Watth, Johs JAa>u AsTtm, Vkjkh C<>o^la^ 
Geuuit Smith. Aluxamhiii T. Stewakt, imd last, though not 
lea.st, Hknhy Buwili, whose disinterested and | terse vering exer- 
tions for the huppressiou of cnielty to aninuds have entillt^l him 
to the wannest ngards of ever)' benevolent heart. The Cuam- 
UKii or CojiMHiicB of the city of New York, assisting of its 
leading merchants, stamls, alst». prominently forward in the 
active pn»motion of every enlightened pubUc and choritiiblu 
entorpr 

2U. I'liting mention should also Iw mmie m this phice of the 
prominent c<luratorB who have impniisiHl their stamp upon the 
minds and hearts of the rising ^' *ioiu First in this great 

fielil of lttU>r was I>r. Ki.irilAi.KT .\vur, who at the commence 
ment of the century as President of Union College at Schenec- 
tady t»r d that institution, and during a period of over sixty 
y.ars, :i.v...M* d f«»r a long time by Professor Au).vzo Pottkii, Uit« 
li».Hh«»p of IVnnsy Ivania, annually sent out of its walls large cloaiea 
of gra'! * *• I in all |M>ints for active senice in Church or 
State, lu mm sur . . ! d in a humbler, but not less imfiortiint, 
fieM, J<i»F.rii LA.M'A^ihit, whose indef • • ^lo exertions, seconde<l 
by the powerful influence of Db W n i c'i.int«jx, moul«le<l the 
earliest system of popular education organite<l in the Stato 
and city of New York, and who in the midst of his laliors was 
accidentidlv kille«l in our streets in 1?*38. His "^wi, ,., „f ii,. 
Btruction was ably carried into eflfect through the *... j^ctic ef 
forts of Gkouop. T. Tkimulr, the President, and Samibi. W. 
Sktos, the Kxecutivo Agent, of the Public-School Swiety ; but 
was finally almncloned on the dissolution of that corporation, 

30. For more than half a centur)' the Miw. NVillabh'* of the 
Troy Female Seminary, and Pn>feHHor Ai>on'Zo CRiri; •, of 
the All>anv Female Scminarv ami Packard Institute of Hro^iklvn, 
aided by Professor and .Mrs. Eatun, have distinguished thcm- 
i^olves in the higher e<lucation of young ladies ; while Dr. T. 
l: MKYN Pfu.K, of the Albanv .\cademv, aided bv Dr. Bli.lio.ns, 
nnd Professors Hknhy and Cooke ; Principals Paor, Perkins, 
NVooLwoBTU, CocUBAN, Olid ilu ir successors in the State Normal 



VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS. 323 

School ; the venerable Dr. Dewey, of the Rochester Collegiate 
Institute, and afterwards of the University there ; Chancellor 
Ferris, of the New York University : and Presidents King and 
Barnard, of Columbia College, President John H. Raymond, of 
Vassar College, Davis and North of Hamilton, Webster, of the 
Free Academy and College of the city of New York, with 
worthy colleagues in every section of the State, — were assidu- 
ously training our young men and women for future usefulness 
and honor. 

31. The first railroad laid down in the State was that between 
Albany and Schenectady, which was completed in 1829. There 
are now between fifty and sixty companies, and about three 
thousand five hundred miles of road in operation, at an aggre- 
gate cost of nearly two hundred millions of dollars. The prin- 
cipal lines are those of the Central, the Hudson River, Harlem 
and Erie Railroads, traversing the State in different sections 
from New York to Lake Erie, with numerous branches com- 
municating with the principal towns and cities in every portion 
of the State. 

32. The taxable valuation of real and personal estate in the 
State is about five thousand millions of dollars, of which about 
one fifth consists in cultivated and improved land. There are 
upwards of twenty-five thousand manufacturing establishments, 
employing two hundred and fifty thousand persons, and having 
an aggregate capital of three hundred millions of dollars and a 
productive capacity of nearly double that amount. The an- 
nual value of exports from the State is upwards of a hundred 
millions of dollars, and that of its imports two hundred mil- 
lions. 

33. The whole number of public schools in the State is about 
eleven thousand, in which nearly one million ot children are an- 
nually educated by twenty-seven thousand teachers, upwards of 
twenty-two thousand of whom are females. Ten millions of 
dollars are annually expended, from the avails of State funds 
permanently appropriated and State and municipal taxation, 
in the employment of teachers, the purchase of sites, the build- 
ing and furnishing of school-houses, and the provision of libra- 
ries and school apparatus. In these libraries upwards of one 
million of volumes are already collected. 



324 COSCLUSlON. — GESEnAL RECAPITULATIOS. 

34. Two hundred academies, with fifty thouiaind pupils and 
one thousand teachers; fifteen colleges, with an afr^aepito of 
upwartls of two thousand students ; seven Nonnul and training 
schools for teachers ; several medical, the. il, and law schools 

and coUegcH ; and twenty-five hundreil private and incor|)<>nited 
schools and semiuarieH of leannnj:, with an agprpitc attendance 
of seventy thousand pupils, — are distributed throughout the 
different sections of the State. 

3'). Numerous charitahle inKtitutumH, > te*! in great i>art 

from puhlic and c<»ri>orate funds, arc foun«i tu ihe i -al cities 

and towns f^ir the inlucation, supjKirt, and reliei *j\ ihe deaf, 
dumb, blind, idiots, and 1 n |«u|»ers, witlowK and ori»hans, 

and inebriates ; hospitals lur the care and me<licrtl treatment 
of the sick and woundeil ; homes for the destitute, a*" V and 
incurable; and jjcnitentiaries and houses of refuge lux uio de- 
tention and ref«»nnation of yi»uthful convi ' 

3G. Ton thousand spacious churches, caiiictiniih, and i 
of public worship, adorn our citicM, villages, and nmii haimtu , 
involving an aggregate ex|»cnditurc of thirty millions of dollars, 
and an annual contribution of three millions of dollars for the 
nuiintenance of the ' One thousand daily, weekly, semi- 

weeklv. monthlv. ana iiiuirterlv ucwht magazines, and pe- 

riotlicals diffuse infonnation broa<lca«t amuiig the jHxiple , and 
public libraries aU>und in every section of the State, embracing 
in the n including the several school libraries, nearly 

two miliiuiiii ui volumes. 

37. The city of New York alone, with a popuhition of olwut 
one million, contains upwards of two hundre<i public schools, 
numlK'ring two hundretl th«>usand pupils, with twenty-five hun- 
dre<l teachers, twenty-two hundre<l of whom are females, and 
three hundred private schools, with an aggregate of seventy 
thousand pupils and sixteen hundred teachers, at an annual 
cost in the former of three millions, and in the latter of two 
millions, of dollars; three colleges, with deporUucuta of Uw 
and medicine in two of them, two medical collejfwi and sev- 
eral theological seminaries ; asylums for the deaf, dumb, and 
blind ; an academy of dehigu and various art -galleries ; three 
opera-hoiujes, ten theatres, three hundred churche« rirhtoen pulv 
lie parks, eleven pubUc markets, charitable aaao- -.-as for the 



VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS. 325 

relief of every description of suiFering and poverty, and nu- 
merous literary and scientific institutions, — conspicuous among 
which are the Cooper Union, the Historical Society, the Astor, 
Mercantile, Apprentices', Institute, City, and Society Libraries, 
the College of the City of New York, the Normal and High 
School for Girls, Columbia College, and the New York Univer- 
sity, — and two hundred and fifty-six daily, weekly, and semi- 
weekly newspapers, and other periodical publications. 

38. Such is a brief glance at the progress and present condi- 
tion of the State op New York, — her early history, her pro- 
tracted struggles for political freedom and independence, her 
triumphs and victories, her enterprise and energy, and the 
transcendent abilities, talents, and statesmanship of her sons. 
Through a lons^ succession of trials and conflicts she has ac- 
complished her great destiny as first and foremost in the brilliant 
constellation of American States ; and with her proud motto, 
" Excelsior," advances with unfaltering steps to the achieve- 
ment in the future of still higher and grander results. Esto 
Perpetua ! 



APPENDIX. 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW 

YORK. 

We the People of the State of New York, grateful to Almighty God 
for our Freedom, in order to secure its blessings, do establish this 
Constitution. 

ARTICLE I. 

Section 1. No memher of this State shall he disfranchised^ or de- 
prived of any of the rights or privileges secured to any citizens thereof, 
unless by the law of the land, or the judgment of his peers. 

Sec 2. The trial hy jury in all cases in which it has been heretofore 
used shall remain inviolate forever ; but a jury trial may be waived 
by the parties in all civil cases in the manner to be prescribed by law. 

Sec 3. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and 
worship^ without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed 
in this State to all mankind ; and no person shall be rendered incom- 
petent to be a witness on account of his opinions on matters of re- 
ligious belief; but the liberty of conscience hereby secured shall not 
be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness, or justify practices 
inconsistent with the peace or safety of this State. 

Sec 4. The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be 
suspended, unless when, in cases of rebellion or invasion, the public 
safety may require its suspension. 

Sec 5. Excessive hail shall not be required nor excessive fines 
imposed, nor shall cruel and unusual punishments be inflicted, nor 
shall witnesses be unreasonably detained. 

Sec 6. No person shall he held to ansiuer for a capital or other^ 
wise infamous crime (except in cases of impeachment, and in cases 
of militia when in actual service ; and the land and naval forces in 
time of war, or which this State may keep, with the consent of Con- 
gress, in time of peace ; and in cases of petit larceny, imder the regu- 
lation of the Legislature), unless on presentment or indictment of a 

21 



328 APPESDIX. 

grand jury ; and in any trial in any court whatever, the party aoeased 
shall 1)6 allowed to appear and defend iu ponton and with counsel M 
in civil action*. N '>n »lin" ' ' ct to be twice put in jeop- 
ardy for '' ; nor ^...... ..■ ;><• «"•,,.. ."i,..i Im .,i,v - rWi, iial 

case to Lt .. --t Jiimsclf, nor iv , . 'yi 

or projHTty without li ^ law ; nor »hnll private pn>ix'rty be 

taken fi>r puMic u«e, witliout just c<>n)|>i>nMiti<>ii 

Sec. 7. When private projtrrty aliall Im? taken for any public m*<, 
the compensation to be made therr/or, when such coni|H'nsalion is not 
made by sliall " I by a t by not lesa than 

three coi ' ^ uludl be pre- 

8cr' ' ' . la.^. i ....... .-. ..' manner to Ihj 

pr- 1 *«y law ; but in ever y of ihr rr^nd. and 

Hi. of nil «!nmairc to I "^l bv the <-, •>f, 

ahall l>e first d* by a jury of fr> rs, and such amount, 

top>ther witlt the oxim.mim.ts of the procecdmp. shall be paid by the 
person to be I «L 

8. Krery rtiuen fnay J>t*iy ff*eaJi, write^ and }"'' 'h his §en- 
ti$juutM on «' 'i^<- •'! Uiat ) 

and no law puaa < • M^uain '•' rtv ' 

or the pr«»j«s. In ' '■••■"-'-• ■ • : 

U»c truth mnv h^ . rv : ai, 'i..»,'. 

to tile jury ; 1 a.* ji' in true, and w;»^>- j'ub- 

lislied wilJi pootl motivofl and for • ;. i , the party aliall be 

acquitted; and the jury shall have ' iit to tlie Uw 

and the fat^t. 

S>' . 9. The a»*<'nt of tW4> i;. : if the • t<Ml t- 

br f the lii'pMUlurf ikhall * . . /tproptiimnj 

thf y •■■ .'" m- •"" ' '>r projyrrty J\,, . 

Sec. 10. .\ *KaH he paxtf /the people 

peaceably to a* <l to j- or any depart- 

ment tliercof, nor sliall any «l. 'Ik? frrantod, otiierwwo tlian by due 
judicial proceodinps ; nor sliall any lottery liercaAer be n /-cd or 

any sale of lottery tickets allowinl williin tl. 

" . 11. T "•• of U •'. in their n^'i.i of - 

tj»,'ti;n*d * . ■/ '.'*! ■'('' prnj*erty \n nwi i-j u<i 

iandsw,\ ... ..; u.. - . -'! lands the title to 

which tJiall fail, from t of 1.. or wirhpat to the 

people, 

."" . 12. \\\ fftidiil tenures of every «!• . with all their in- 

cidents, arc declared to be . '< mu'. however, all rents and 

services certain which at any ti: • have beeo lawfully 

created or re,<!orve<l. 

Sec 13. All lands within this State are declared to ifc aiiodiai^ :ju 



'constitution of state of new YORK. 329 

that, subject only to the liabiKty to escheat, the entire and absolute 
property is vested in the owners, according to the nature of their 
respective estates. 

Sec. 14. No lease or grant of agricultural land, for a longer period 
than twelve years, hereafter made, in which shall be reserved any rent 
or service of any kind, shall be valid. 

Sec. 15. Allfi7ies, quarter sales, or other like restraints upon aliena- 
tion reserved in any grant of land, hereafter to be made, shall be 
void. 

Sec. 16. No purchase or contract for the sale of lands in this State, 
made since the fourteenth day of October, one thousand seven hun- 
dred and seventy-five, or which may hereafter be made, of, or with 
' the Indians, shall be valid, unless made under the authority and with 
the consent of the Legislature. 

Sec. 17. Such parts of the common law, and of the acts of the 
Legislature of the colony of New York, as together did form the law 
of the said colony on the nineteenth day of April, one thousand seven 
hundred and seventy-five, and the resolutions of the Congress of the 
said colony, and of the Convention of the State of New York in 
force on the twentieth day of April, one thousand seven hundred and 
seventy-seven, which have not since expired, or been repealed or 
altered, and such acts of the Legislature of this State as are now in 
force, shall be and continue the law of this State, subject to such 
alterations as the Legislature shall make concerning the same. But 
all such parts of the common law, and such of the said acts or parts 
thereof, as are repugnant to this Constitution, are hereby abrogated ; 
and the Legislature, at its first session after the adoption of this Con- 
stitution, shall appoint three commissioners whose duty it shall be to 
reduce into a written and systematic code the whole body of the law 
of this State, or so much and such parts thereof as to the said com- 
missioners shall seem practicable and expedient. And the said com- 
missioners shall specify such alterations and amendments therein as 
they shall deem proper, and they shall at all times make reports of 
tlieir proceedings to the Legislature, when called upon to do so ; and 
the Legislature shall pass laws regulating the tenure of office, the 
filling of vacancies therein, and the compensation of the said com- 
missioners, and shall also provide for the publication of the said code, 
prior to its being presented to the Legislature for adoption. 

Sec 18. All grants of larid within this State, made by the king of 
Great Britain, or persons acting under his authority, after the four- 
teenth day of October, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five, 
shall be null and void; but nothing contained in this Constitution 
shall affect any grants of land within this State, made by the author- 
ity of the said king or his predecessors, or shall annul any charters to 



330 APPENDIX, 

bodies politic and eoq>oratc, by him or them made, before that dav : 
or »»lmll affect any such jfranU? or charters, since made by this St 
or by perwons acting under its authority ; or sliall impair the 
tion of any debts contracted by tliis State, or individuaK or boiiitn* 
corporate, or any other ' ty or any suitA, aciioDt, rigfau 

of action, or other proouvuui^a m cuui us of justice. 

ARTICLE II. 

Sicnox 1. Kvorv male citixen of tJie ape of twenty-one years wjjo 
shall ha%'e been a for ten days, and an i mt of tiiis State 
one rear next pp - an el- and for ' t four montlis a 
r« of the ctniniy where he nn»y offer his >■ ^\\ be ' ' ' 
to vi*U at .» ' ' ' . , , tj he hUAii ul 
llic time be a res: ' ^ ■ *ro 

0^ \. ........ n. . r t,^n.v \ ..... :\Vi* 

\,. xt tir nan 

tl, '-n for whom he offeni his 

Toi'v Hut no man of color, u luve been for tliroe yean 

a of lli . and for one year next any . 

shall have > td poMU>8sed of a fr of tlic \mln« 

of two 1 I aiitl l.lly d ■■ ' 

brances ' *' -on, a; >>«■« n 

1^ ti^ tl 111 l»e '•• •• »■' ..<• at SI. .. i .- - . .'.... :.» 

person n: >" ^»- i to direct taxation unleaa be sliall 1m^ 

■eiz4*4l and \ i real estate as aforesaid: Proridefl. t 

in time of war, no elector in tlie actual military w^rvice of the ' 
States, in the army or nary tljereof, shall be depHved of his vote by 
reason of his absence from the State, and the Ix*p^ature Khali have 
power to provide tlie t r in which, and the time and pUcc at 

v' ' ah«ei ' ' ' and f ' •'an r ass a* ' ' ima 

ol iii«u x'les in Un- « »i,t it<iii tji-^iiii U) in i*u.' u liiey respe* i • . i • j re- 
side or otlierwise. 

Sec. 2, Loicg may be passed exttudintj frnm the rinhf of tujjpnufe 
all person.^ who have been or may be < od of y, larc« 

or of any i: .•« crime; and for deprivmp every person who shall 

make, or become directly or in ■ interested in any bet or wager, 

depending upon the result of aii\ n, from tl»c right to rote at 

gn ' ' -tion. 

.~r. . i. For the purpoise of voting, no person shall be deemed to 
b.ivi I' iln.wl or lost a rtsidmef, by reason "f ' i< nreeenoe or absence, 
"w , ..yed in the sorvire of the I ites; nor whil** en- 

gaged in tlie navigation of llic waters of this State, or of the ' 
States, or of the high seas; nor while a student of aaj teminary ol 



CONSTITUTION OF STATE OF NEW YORK. 331 

learning; nor while kept at any almshouse, or other asylum, at pub- 
lic expense ; nor while confined in any public prison. 

Sec. 4. Laws shall be made for ascertaining by proper proofs the 
citizens who shall be entitled to the right of suffrage hereby estab- 
lished. 

Sec. 5. All elections by the citizens shall be hy ballot, except for 
such town of&cers as may by law be directed to be otherwise chosen. 

ARTICLE III. 

Section 1. The legislative power of this State shall be vested in a 
Senate and Assembly. 

Sec 2. The Senate shall consist of thirty-two members, and the 
senators shall be chosen for two years. The Assembly shall consist 
of one hundred and twenty-eight members, who shall be annually 
elected. 

Sec 3. The State shall be divided into thirty-two districts, to be 
called senate districts, each of which shall choose one senator. The 
districts shall be numbered from one to thirty-two inclusive. 

District number One (1) shall consist of the counties of Suffolk, 
Richmond, and Queens. 

District number Two (2) shall consist of the county of Kings. 

District number Three (3), number Four (4), number Five (5), and 
number Six (6) shall consist of the city and county of New York. 
And the Board of Supervisors of said city and county shall, on or be- 
fore the first day of May, one thousand eight hundred and forty- seven, 
divide the said city and county into the number of Senate districts to 
which it is entitled, as near as may be, of an equal number of inhab- 
itants excluding aliens and persons of color not taxed, and consisting 
of convenient and contiguous territory ; and no Assembly district shall 
be divided in the formation of a Senate district. The Board of Super- 
visors, when they shall have completed such division, shall cause cer- 
tificates thereof, stating the number and boundaries of each district, 
and the population thereof, to be filed in the office of the Secretary 
of State, and of the clerk of the said city and county. 

[The residue of this section consists of the designation of the sev- 
eral Senate districts, which, under the provisions of the next section, 
have since been materially changed by the Legislature.] 

Sec 4. An enumeration of the inhabitants of the State shall be 
taken under the direction of the Legislature, in the year one thousand 
eight hundred and fifty-five, and at the end of every ten years there- 
after ; and the said districts shall be so altered by the Legislature, at 
the first session after the return of every enumeration, that each sen- 
ate district shall contain, as nearly as may be, an equal number of 



332 APPESDIX. 

inhabitants, cxcludinjr alion« and poironn of color not taxod ; and rfiall 
remain unalUTi-d until tiie return of another cnunuTation, and shall at 
all limtiJ consuit of contiguous U'rritory ; and no county i»ludl l>o di- 
vided in ilu- ! m of a Mrnat« district except sucli county sliall V" 
t M iiiahly • ' two or more senatoni. 

S»c. o. ii. y (uwemWy shall be apporti""'^ n,„,.r.„ »l . 

^.y,.r .1 .'. .iiftt iff Kv the Leffislature. n.- 

ar, . ir rectpectivo ii 

a! . n- and jHrMJiia of color not taxcd, mud ahall bo chooen 1 

The >-v. ral boArdf of Kupervisoni in such • <« of t' to as 

are now » » one i r ol A««-i : ' l a*i«em- 

\' •' i;iai i :\i\\ <!i\:.l- .; rl•^JH.•Otivo 

( .:.' ' \ • »jiirt* u» Ujc iiiiiultT i»l members of 

„c« are now m^v.-mllv rntitliwl tv law, 

:n the offices of l!-.' and 

. <.-« a d* -m of such A y 

•cr of each - .»:. i r:..- j • 

as near a- 

^-il. KiK-h A tohifcil 1, as nearly 

an* : •, a;i e(|ual ' r oi . s *** aV' h-j and 

prr- •: ' " not tA id sliaii < ** ' c<>n- 

ti^'uoii '■"' :.., ;- .vn shall U - ... n .if 

An*" Ti. 

T. :e, at its fin«l teasion after tl»e return of every enu- 

meration, slmll reapportion the members of Asuembly among tlie sev- 
eral counties of this State, in manner aforeajud, and the boards of 
supervisors in such • • « as may be entitle*!, under such : 

Tit, to more liiaa <• ' H assemble at such umc :l^ 

t;.. i^'«!k';'^. I' nVi'iff sucu I •■ '-nt Miall •—•':' «nd 

.' ! sii, ,4 , ••- \<u»eii.- . ''1 the I . ..cr<*in 

,. 1; oiii; n. nt HO to be made shall 

r. . Tmallered u: be taken under the 

pro. of the pr> »n. 

Every county heret. .ed and separately org*nized, ex- 

r<j>l the county of llftimlton, shall always be entitled to one • -r 

of tlie " and no new c*- 1 be hereafter erectcu uuicss 

ils ! " ' it to n 

T... .... i.Ti „.w. the co""»v of Fulton, until 

the »»^ i..ft' iltnn shall, ft. :i(r to the ratio, 

be. 

Sec 6. Tlic membrrt of the i 'ure f\\aX\ rrreixt for their ger- 

vices a sum not exceeding tlirec dollars a day, from the commenco- 
mcut of the teanon ; but such |>ay shall not exceed in the aggregate 



CONSTITUTION OF STATE OF NEW YORK. 333 

three hundred dollars for per diem allowance, except in proceedings 
for impeachment. The limitation as to the aggregate compensation 
shall not take effect until the year one thousand eight hundred and 
forty-eight. When convened in extra session by the Governor, they 
shall receive three dollars per day. They shall also receive the sum 
of one dollar for every ten miles they shall travel, in going to and re- 
turning from their place of meeting, on the most usual route. The 
Speaker of the Assembly shall, in virtue of his office, receive an ad- 
ditional compensation equal to one third of his per diem allowance as 
a member. 

Sec. 7. No member of the Legislature shall receive any civil ap- 
pointment within this State, or to the Senate of the United States, 
from the Governor, the Governor and Senate, or from the Legislature 
durincj the time for which he shall have been elected ; and all such 
appointments and all votes given for any such member, for any such 
office or appointment, shall be void. . 

Sec 8. No person bemg a member of Congress, or holding any 
judicial or military office under the United States, shall hold a seat 
in the Legislature, And if any person shall, after his election as a 
member of the Legislature, be elected to Congress, or appointed to 
any office, civil or military, under the government of the United 
States, his acceptance thereof shall vacate his seat. 

Sec. 9. The election of senators and members of Assemhly, pur- 
suant to the provisions of this Constitution, shall be held on the 
Tuesday succeeding the first Monday of November, unless otherwise 
directed by the Legislature. 

Sec. 10. A majority of each House shall constitute a quorum to do 
business. Each House shall determine the rules of its own proceed- 
ino-s, and be the judge of the elections, returns, and qualifications of 
its own members, shall choose its own officers ; and the Senate shall 
choose a temporary President, when the Lieutenant-Governoi shall 
not attend as President, or shall act as Governor. 

Sec 11. Each House shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and 
publish the same, except such parts as may require secrecy. The 
doors of each House shall be kept open, except when the public wel- 
fare shall require secrecy. Neither House shall, without the consent 
of the other, adjourn for more than two days. 

Sec. 12. For any speech or debate in either House of the Legisla- 
ture, the members shall not be questioned in any other place. 

Sec 13. Any bill may originate in either House of the Legislature, 
and all bills passed by one House may be amended by the other. 

Sec. 14. The enacting clause of all bills shall be " The People of 
the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do 
enact as follows," and no law shall be enacted except by bill. 



334 APPESI>IX. 

Sec. 15. No hiU shaU \^c passr,l unless 6y Uie assent of a i;. 
of ail Uic n t" ia< h l>runch of the Leginlature, oiiU Uo 
question U|kjii uic i.:..i. j . a.'f .'•hull In- taken iniim' * \v upon its 
last reatlui^, and t'-- ^' -.!•%- . "f.-rcti on the jo«.. 

Sec. 10. No pr t may be paJaaed bj the Legis- 

laturv, Almll embrace more than ou^ ot, and th^t ahall be expresMni 

io the title. 

Sec. 17. The L- ire may confer upon the board* of gupervitors 

of the several couniti-s uf the State ^uch furlhiT {Mwcrs uf local lcgu»- 
latioo aod admiuUtratiun atf they shall trom imie to time prescribe. 

ARTICLE ir. 

BmmoH 1. The w ^r u h ' rs potner shall be rctttrd in a Gorernor, 

who Khali hold hi- for two yean; a 1 i-Goveruor shall 

be choM>n at the same tune andiur the same ti'rm. 

Sec. 2. No person except a dtiica of tlie United States shall bo 
chgible to the ojice of Oinmmor, nor sliall any person be • 
that ' ' " not have at- ' tlie afpe of ^' y^arK^ ■ 

who '-en fire years ucav preoediog hia uccnou a rvai- 

dent UiU.ii: V..IO. 

8ec. 3. 1 vrmor and Lituttnont- Oovtmor ahall be eJerfed at 

the timoa aiyl placm of choosing ni ■< of the Aaseni 

peraona respecuvidy havm;; tlie hiki' .;. • r of rotee for Governor 
and Lieutenant-Governor cJiall U* • < • d ; but in caae two or ni' : 
shall have an equal and ' t numlior of votes for ' !ior, or 

for L U*eiwi>l! ^ .itur**, ai iii« n< \t 

aniM'.w . ...It ^^. jjj- ^jj^, jy^j 

perm>n^ .h«» . uuji-it i .m .oics for Gov- 

ernor or Li> 

8bc. 4. '1 ..-r-in-Chief of tiie mihtary 

and naval forcfA of Uie State. Hi* iUiall have {Sower to convene the 
Lepslature (or the Senate only) on extraordmary occaMon& He shall 
communicate by mt'H.ta^'e to the Lefn«lature, at every aeaaion, tlie con- 
dition of the State, and i raattcrii to them as he sliall 
j< ' ' !iL He WiJii u ' ^ with the 

oiii. ..-■•. ^••. .rnmcnt, civil ai. . ..n \ 

nieasiiris .%< may Ix* r- - .K.-.l i 

care ■ .<• lawn art 

receive for his servitfs a «^»i I by law, which 

ahall neillier be incrfa.<4>d nor <: ^n or durmg 

his continuance in otTico. 

Sec. 5. The Governor Hhall have the power to fj^^Uit * 
ocMnmatationa, and pardons, afier oonriction, for all ofienoitt cjux^b 






CONSTITUTION OF STATE OF NEW YORK. 335 

treason and cases of impeachment, upon such conditions and with 
such restrictions and Hmitations, as he may think proper, subject 
to such regulation as may be provided by law relative to the manner 
of applying for pardons. Upon conviction for treason, he shall have 
power to suspend the execution of the sentence until the case shall 
be reported to the Legislature at its next meeting, when the Legisla- 
ture shall either pardon, or commute the sentence, direct the execu- 
tion of the sentence, or grant a further reprieve. He shall annually 
communicate to the Legislature each case of reprieve, commutation, 
or pardon granted; stating the name of the convict, the crime of 
which he was convicted, the sentence and its date, and the date of 
the commutation, pardon, or reprieve. 

Sec. 6. In case of the impeachment of the Governor, or his removal 
from office, death, inability to discharge the powers and duties of the 
said office, resignation or absence from the State, the powers and du- 
ties of the office shall devolve upon the Lieutenant-Governor for the 
residue of the term, or until the disability shall cease. But when 
the Governor shall, with the consent of the Legislature, be out of the 
State in time of war, at the head of a military force thereof, he shall 
continue Commander-in-Chief of all the military force of the State. 

Sec 7. The Lieutenant- Governor shall possess the same qualifica- 
tions of eligibility for office as the Governor. He shall be President 
of the Senate, but shall have only a casting vote therein. If during 
a vacancy of the office of Governor, the Lieutenant-Governor shall be 
impeached, displaced, resign, die, or become incapable of performing 
the duties of his office, or he be absent from the State, the President 
of the Senate shall act as Governor until the vacancy be filled, or the 
disability shall cease. 

Sec 8. The Lieutenant- Governor shall, while acting as such, receive 
a compensation which shall be fixed by law, arid which shall not be 
increased or diminished during his continuance in office. 

Sec. 9. Every bill which shall have passed the Senate and Assem- 
bly, shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the Governor ; if 
he approve, he shall sign it ; but if not, he shall return it with his 
objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall 
enter the objections at large on their journal, and proceed to recon- 
sider it. If, after such consideration, two thirds of the members 
present shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the 
objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be recon- 
sidered ; and if approved by two thirds of all the members present 
it shall become a law, notwithstanding the objections of the Governor. 
But in all such cases the votes of both Houses shall be determined 
by yeas and nays, and the names of the members voting for and 
against the bill shall be entered on the journal of each House re- 



SS6 APPESDIX. 

ppoctivcly. If any bill shall not be returned by the Governor within 
ten days (Sundays cv - it Rhall have been pre«ented to 

him, the luune sliall Ik- u iaw, in nice manner as if he had signed it, 

unless the L- 'ill, by their ac^oumment, prevent its return; 

in which ca**. .;. ^— «.. ;.-i be a law. 

ARTICLE V. 

StcTiojr 1. The Secretary of State^ ' oUrr. Treasurer ^ and Ai- 

tomey- Otneral sliall be choiscn at a y »n, and sliall hold 

their oflic«^ for two years. Each of Uie '"d 

-^ -akfr of iJjo Assembly) h; 

1 in office, r •• • *" - ?; u, 

\\\.. .: be increaai'd h 

he ^h:v'.' !:nvo b©cn elected ; n- : . :- . ^ 

or pel H of ofRe^. or olhor ec*- .. 

Sec. 2. A Statt i Khali ))e chosen at a (rcneral 
election, and nhall hold his oihtx* two yeant, but no person shall be 

elccti'd t<» said office who is not a ] r. 

8bc. 3. T) ''tnal (' nonerf at lb. -al 

election v.' ;..iil Ite h • *^ i .-I this t --ii^uiu- 

aiiu .cars. The Con. 

meet at tl»e capitol on the fjn.i M i>f .Innnnrv nrxt af^#»r such 

election, and determine by lot which of said ' ! hoM 

his office for one year, wliich for two, and which for three years ; and 
there sliall be elected thereafter, one Canal Commissioner, 

who sliall hold his olhcc lor titme y 

8k. 4. Thri^ /» ' r$ of StaU J all U l ni ujc 

r*"""— ^' '•'- • Mon wi ■" '"• held ! •' n of tliis 

». , one »•: ' K'M nnr. for 

two vejir«. and one for tl* ac, 

ail ' - shall mc'et at the capitol on t Monday of Janu- 

ary next 8ucc<*e<linp such • . and determine by lot which of 

said I >n» shall hold his office for one year, which for two, and 

which lor Uire<^ and there shall be elected annually tl 'T, 

one It - ■ r ot .-laic Pri^tons who shall hold his office lor inreo 

yc-"^- "-' '■■'-' 'nil have the r' — ' '■•■• ' -.r-o of 

tlii ~ , .- :. . ... . .M nrinriirit .>»!' ' i.-nfi. 

cics in tlic office of sij . 
tlic next election. 

S' •. ri. The Lieutenant-Governor, Speaker of the Assembly, S<«rrD- 
tary of State. Comptroller. Treasurer, Attorney-General, and State 
Engineer and Surveyor, ahall be the Commitiionen of the Land OJic^ 



CONSTITUTION OF STATE OF NEW YORK. 337 

The Lieutenant-Governor, Secretary of State, Comptroller, Treasurer, 
and Attorney-General shall be the Commissioners of the Canal Fund. 
The Canal Board shall consist of the Commissioners of the Canal 
Fund, the State Engineer and Surveyor, and the Canal Commis- 
sioners. 

Sec. 6. The powers and duties of the respective hoards^ and of the 
several officers in this article mentioned, shall be such as now are or 
hereafter may be prescribed by law. 

Sec. 7. The Treasurer may be suspended from office by the Gov- 
ernor, during the recess of the Legislature, and until thirty days after 
the commencement of the next session of the Legislature, whenever 
it shall appear to him that such Treasurer has, in any particular, vio- 
lated his duty. The Governor shall appoint a competent person to 
discharge the duties of the office during such suspension of the Treas- 
urer. 

Sec. 8. All offices for the weighing, gauging, measuring, culling, 
or inspecting any merchandise, produce, manufacture, or commodity 
whatever, are hereby abohshed, and no such office shall hereafter be 
created by law ; but nothing in this section contained shall abrogate 
any office created for the purpose of protecting the public health or 
the interests of the State in its property, revenue, tolls, or purchases, 
or of supplying the people with correct standards of weights and 
measures^ or shall prevent the creation of any office for such purposes 
hereafter. 

ARTICLE VI. 

[As modified by constitutional Amendment adopted by the people 
in ISTovember, 1869.] 

Section 1. The Assembly shall have the power of impeachment^ 
by a vote of the majority of all the members elected. The court for 
the trial of impeachments shall be composed of the President of the 
Senate, the Senators, or a major part of them, and the judges of the 
Court of Appeals, or the major part of them. On the trial of an im- 
peachment against the Governor, the Lieutenant-Governor shall not 
act as a member of the court. ISTo judicial officer shall exercise his 
office, after articles of impeachment against him shall have been pre- 
ferred to the Senate, until he shall have been acquitted. Before the 
trial of an impeachment, the members of the court shall take an. oath 
or affirmation, truly and impartially to try the impeachment accord- 
ing to evidence ; and no person shall be convicted without the con- 
currence of two thirds of the members present. Judgment in cases 
of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from office, 
or removal from office and disqualification to hold and enjoy any 

22 



388 APPESDIX. 

office of honor, trust, or profit, undor xXxxb State; but the party im- 
peached shall be liable to indictinont and punLKlunent a^ w. 

8ic. 2. There shall be a Court of Appeal* conipoiicu oi a uiacf 
Judjfo and six Associate J ' - v.^ V ill be chiMi>Q by the electors 
of lh«- "^* ■•■ " ' -' '■' '' ■••r a lenn of fuurteen years 

from i. iimary n«xt nftrr Uieir eleotaon. 

At llie firxi . ;i of judges, under thin C" :i, e%-ery elector 

may vole for tlie Cliief and only four of i;-- A- " .ii< .lui.-i-s. Any 
five members of tiie court shall form a quorum, and ti.> • ucurrenco 
of four shall be necessary to a decision. 1 :rt ttliail have the 

ap|H>intnu'nU with the |>ower of removal, ol ;u lieporier and Clerk, 
an«i of such •' • ' • •■♦ as may be nocvMUkty. 

Sec. 3. \\ '" ' " -ludl occur, otherwise than by expiration 

of tfnn. in tlie oflict > .tef or Associate Judge of the Court of 
A|^ Mm** idioll be filled, for a full term, at the next |ri*ncral 

election ^ not less than three montlis aAer such vacancy 

occurs ; and unul the vacancy aha! r, by and 

with the advice and comtent of lh< te, U liie all be in 

sciwion, or if not tlio G v apiMJiui lo liu such va- 

cancy. If any such r.- ■ a «( <_;»..» .i • ' • ^iiall b*^ made irttm 

anioMf; the Av^x-mte » . i. n.i^.rary :t, , uucnt of Associate 

Jii.l '.- -h.i'.l (• ina<l<> i:; : t>ut in Kuch cam* tlie peTMO 

B{,, .1 not be d to vacate his ofliii* of 

A> ^ •• any : Uuui until tJie expiration of Iiih app«iint- 

ment as Chief Jud^. The powers and . :> of tlie court shall 

not be suj«; '. for want of o; it or • », when llio 

numlwr of 

mentM undi ' "ji;»ii <■'. ium m.-i n. 

day t»f Dec*.;...-; ....»» ulXcr the i.. ■■' ft» which l: -i 

. 4. Upon the orgn n of the Court o/ Aj j "iv 

article, tlie causes then ; ■ in tiic present Court of . 

become vested in irt of Appeals hereby estAblishod. 8uch of 

said causes as arc ; t day of Januar>\ one thousand 

eight hundred and ^ . . ^j dcUrmined by a 

Commis.< * > bo CfUij'-M-'i u; • -rs of >• • -i- f^ •- 

of whon; l>e ne<'e«i*Ary to c<.; - .. -^ :ii. 1* 

of Appeals hereby e?Jt.-\M:'-hrMl may ortler any of said 
heani therein. Such ' on ithall l>c compo»c<l of tlie Ju<lges of 

the present Court of Appi'aU, decletl or appoinle<l tliercto, and a fifth 
Cora; cr who .shall be appointed by the Governor, by and willi 

the ad%KX' and ooasent of the " ; or, if tl; ~ in ses- 

sion, by the G- r; but in .. »--■ the apinj. expire 

mt the end of Lue ucxt session. 



CONSTITUTION OF STATE OF NEW YORK. 339 

Sec. 5. If any vacancy shall occur in the office of the said Commis- 
sioners, it shall be filled by appointment by the Governor, by and with 
the advice and consent of the Senate ; or, if the Senate is not in ses- 
sion, by the Governor ; but in such case the appointment shall expire 
at the end of the next session. The Commissioners shall appoint, 
from their number, a Chief Commissioner, and may appoint and re- 
move such attendants as may be necessary. The Reporter of the 
Court of Appeals shall be the Reporter of said Commission. The 
decisions of the Commission shall be certified to, and entered and 
enforced, as the judgments of the Court of Appeals. The Commis- 
sion shall continue until the causes committed to it are determined, 
but not exceeding three years ; and all causes then undetermined' 
shall be heard by the Court of Appeals. 

Sec 6. There shall be the existing Supreme Court, with general 
jurisdiction in law and equity, subject to such appellate jurisdiction 
of the Court of Appeals as now is or may be prescribed by law ; and 
it shall be composed of the justices now in office, who shall be con- 
tinued during their respective terms, and of their successors. The 
existing judicial districts of the State are continued until changed 
pursuant to this section. Five of the justices shall reside in the dis- 
trict in which is the city of New York, and four in each of the other 
districts. 

The Legislature may alter the districts without increasing the num- 
ber, once after every enumeration, under this Constitution, of the 
inhabitants of this State. 

Sec. 7. At the first session of the Legislature after the adoption of 
this article, and fi:om time to time thereafter as may be necessary, but 
not oftener than once in five years, provision shall be made for or- 
ganizing, in the Supreme Court, not more than four General Terms 
thereof, each to be composed of a presiding justice and not more than 
three other justices, who shall be designated, according to law, from 
the whole number of justices. Each presiding justice shall continue 
to act as such during his term of office. Provision shall be made by 
law for holding the General Terms in each Judicial District. Any 
Justice of the Supreme Court may hold Special Terms and Circuit 
Courts, and may preside in Courts of Oyer and Terminer, in any 
county. 

Sec 8. No judge or justice shall sit at a General Term of any court, 
or in the Court of Appeals, in review of a decision made by him or 
by any court of which he was at the time a sitting member. The 
testimony in equity cases shall be taken in like manner as in cases at 
law ; and, except as herein otherwise provided, the Legislature shall 
have the same power to alter and regulate the jurisdiction and pro- 
ceedings in law and equity as they have heretofore exercised. 



340 APPKSDIX. 

Sec. 9. "NVljcn a vaeanry shall occur, othorwiw* than by expiration 

of term, in the oflicc of Justice of the Supreme Court, the wune hhall 

be filleil for a full term, at tlie next general election. Imi-; not 

le» tlian three niontlw after such va<-ancy occur* ; and uuiil ai»y va- 

I Im» h» hllctl, the f! by and with the advice and 

.1 til' "- • itc. if the •'' U* in Kcssion, or, if not in 

|J..' <, r ii.riv !.• >u<h vacancy. Anv ?nrh 

* • 

J, :;i. lit -!ui ' the la*<t day of 1 i- 

J. r next after the e! at which the vacancy nliall be li 

Sk . 10. The j;!.'-^ of the Court of Appcaln, and tlie 
tlie Supreme Court. Lill not liold any otiier ofiic« of pubUe trust. 
All vot«tt for any of them, for any other liian a judicial offitv, piven 
by »' f ' ro or the \ ' nhall l»e void. 

S»,« . li, »/'i'.y«-« of the i "...L of A|<" •'- •• -1 ju»tice« of llie Su- 
preme C<iurt may be remox'td by « re.<<"»ltiti.>n of l>oth 

liouMM of llje Lepii«l*lure, if two l; f all the "m elected 

to each Houae concur therein. All i tho«e 

mentioned in \X\\» ncction, and except Jc of the I 4 

and juAticos of the courtB not of record, may be r- I by 

the S<«nate on the r« '>f the Governor, if two ihirtU of 

all the ni< 1 i** u*c -ncur therein. But no re- 

n^>v.il -hi. ' - - -■ ,. ,,j i,,j, nection. -• ' '^ '■ •-••*« 

\\ .■..,"" 1 .. ..■ lit t\iip iitiii>«.>< fiii- (J 

• ..■ • . ■ :'. 

li ..• li.'ul an ' y of l>eine heard. On the i, ti 

of removal the yeas antl nayji >*hall Ik* < : on the journal. 

Sic 12. The S*iftrnor Court of tht nty of Xew York, tlie Court 
of Common J'lea* for the ciiy and < if New York, t) r 

(' urt of liuffaln, at ' f^Sty Couri uj />;.."■'. ;»r. ■ with 

! - -, - i .. .r y i^jj^y . . J -I,.,, fur- 

,...._... ....n a« n.-v .- - ' '^*' The 

-t i.f \cw York ahall be componed of . n 

n of tins article, and llieir pi. • -'"ra; the Court 
of Common i T New York, of tiie three liien in office, 

and tlieir . and three n ' i%»\ the Superior Court 

of I . ol liie judp«»« now in olVue and their Kuccetwors; and the 

City Lourl of T ' wich numU-r of judpvH. not exceedinf^ 

tliree, as may U- |.i..v. i.-i oy Uw. Tb'- ••• ' -••s of ■' ' in 

office at tl»e adoption of this article, ar" ■ • t nri i- 

li»»n of tlieir terms. A Chief Juiljre sh by the ju<ij. s 

of each of said courts, from their own numl>er, who sliall act as such 
durinp his official term. Vacancies in tlie office of the judpes named 
in tliis sc<nion, occurring otlierwi,***? than by • ion of term, shall 

be filled in tlic same manner as vacancies in Uic > .; r< :nc Court The 



CONSTITUTION OF STATE OF NEW YORK.- 341 

Legislature may provide for detailing judges of the Superior Court 
and Court of Common Pleas of New York, to hold circuits or special 
terms of the Supreme Court in that city, as the public interests may 
require. 

Sec. 13. Justices of the Supreme Court shall be chosen by the elec- 
tors of their respective judicial districts. Judges of all the courts 
mentioned in the last preceding section shall be chosen by the elec- 
tors of the cities respectively in which the said courts are instituted. 
The official terms of the said justices and judges who shall be elected 
after the adoption of this article shall be fourteen years from and 
including the first day of January next after their election. But no 
person shall hold the office of Justice or Judge of any court longer 
than until and including the last day of December next after he shall 
be seventy years of age. 

Sec. 14. The judges and justices hereinbefore mentioned shall 
receive for their services a compensation to be established by law, 
which shall not be diminished during their official terms. Except 
the judges of the Court of Appeals and the justices of the Supreme 
Court, they shall be paid, and the expenses ot their courts defrayed, 
by the cities or counties in which such courts are instituted, as shall 
be provided by law. 

Sec 15. The existing County Courts are continued, and the judges 
thereof in office at the adoption of this article shall hold their offices 
until the expiration of their respective terms. Their successors shall 
be chosen by the electors of the counties for the term of six years. 
The county courts shall have the powers and jurisdiction they now 
possess, until altered by the Legislature. They shall also have origi- 
nal jurisdiction in all cases where the defendants reside in the county, 
and in which the damages claimed shall not exceed one thousand dol- 
lars ; and also such appellate jurisdiction as shall be provided by law, 
subject, however, to such provision as shall be made by law for the 
removal of causes into the Supreme Court. They shall also have 
such other original jurisdiction as shall, from time to time, be con- 
ferred upon them by the Legislature. The County Judge with two 
Justices of the Peace, to be designated according to law, may hold 
Courts of Sessions, with such criminal jurisdiction as the Legislature 
shall prescribe, and he shall perform such other duties as may be re- 
quired by law. His salary, and the salary of the Surrogate when 
elected as a separate officer, shall be established by law, payable out 
of the county treasury, and shall not be diminished during his term 
of office. The Justices of the Peace shall be paid, for services in 
courts of sessions, a per diem allowance out of the county treasury. 
The County Judge shall also be Surrogate of his county; but in 
counties having a population exceeding forty thousand the Legisla- 



342 



APPFxnrx. 



tiiro may provide for the election of a wparat*' ofHocr to be Purm{mt<», 

wboM term of ofHco »Uh\\ \hs tlie mme aw that of the ( ' 

The County Ju«lp«' of any ■ ■■ may preside at Court* t»l .^ 



or hold county courti< m any otlier county, 

Kinps, when ri*<i" ' •' ' •' tlie Jn<' •" -•••'• 

Si. ir>. Th.- I . • mav 



c; 



:M»rs^ j 



the 



of I. 



two in any County, to diiwharp* tlie d 
Surrognte^ in caiw* of their inahihty, or of a > 
such otlier power* i: 



* New YorK ;u: I 

. .ounty. 

•n of the Board of 
% not to exce<'d 
itif Juilgt and of 
. and to exerciiHj 



The \. 



r, if U 



8ic. 17 
tor* of *' " • i" • 
and i»\ 

lolM, ax : 1 - . 

Judfjf of the Court of 
be hereafter filled by 
upon till- <iuef»ti<>n mIiaU \)o m t 
then'after U« ele»nvo, but, a< 
It r»l by the G- 

hut in . '" 

vetje*!, and fu 
tlie end of thnt 
mentioned \v\ 

!i !>o 1 .■■•■.■ • 
V. -i.T* u|)on the 
hhall not t' 
niletl in thi' I 
Set. is. T: 
tnwn nii'etin^. 



d «aM«»« tkn may he provul*-*! by law. 

'<• for 8ul' ' to the eleo- 
- "' - !e««n v. '• 'I 

1 AittHXi.ii'- 

of the Supreme Court, 



. and of 

■nt?" 



If a n. 



of tlie votes 



\ i 



' ' and 1 
d by ap 



..• -I'l .•!'i. .•- -h.ill not 

I l>e fiUed by 

\*jUi ; ' «x>naent 

(n.rer 

tw V f , 

, ■• at 

tlio < judf>iM 

of Ar- X of the < 

.eiit?" if :. . of 

'I be in llie n:!':::!.:itive, tiio huuI olTicet 

-x^ \.i. i;,. . H occur, they nhall be 

l.d. 

...^ ^ ...„. ......*ji mIuU, at ll^'^i** f^nnual 

b manner as the liCinivlatiire t rect, 

■et of th^ Peare^ whone term of oil Jl bo four VfnrK 

In caAC of .a: I ri to fill a vacancy oc<tirnng before the ox ti 

of Ik full term, lliey ahall hold for tiie residue of the u: i. 

r and Hasiiftcation may be r ■<! by 

ut Uu< iv I judgw or justices of inu-nur courtft nui oi reciiro, 

and Uieir < !• ik-, may be p — -'^ after due notice and an ^ '"i- 

nity of being heard by tnu ;rt aA may lie prescnl»e<l by r 

cxwAO to be assigned in the order of removal Justice* of the 1*. v. .• 
nn<l Dlhlricl Court I - Mhall be elect4xi in llie '. <>( 

- StAt4\ in 8uch manner, and with uuch powers, and for such temu*, 
ly. as Khali Ihj predcriljed by Uw ; all other j '^ 

in cilieA, whone < :i or d| -lent is not ot" <• provuieti lor 

in thij» ortiele. r1 ' 'Jten i . • ' tors ol ciucs, or appointed 

by awoo local auiuwituv.-> ihcruoL 



CONSTITUTION OF STATE OF NEW YORK. 343 

Sec. 19. Inferior local courts of civil and criminal jurisdiction may 
be established by the Legislature ; and except as herein otherwise 
provided, all judicial officers shall be elected or appointed at such 
times, and in such manner, as the Legislature may direct. 

Sec. 20. Clerks of the several counties shall be clerks of the Su- 
preme Court, vi^ith such powers and duties as shall be prescribed by 
law. The Clerk of the Court of Appeals shall keep his office at the 
seat of government. His compensation shall be fixed by law, and 
paid out of the pubhc treasury. 

Sec. 21. No judicial officer, except Justices of the Peace, shall re- 
ceive to his own use any fees or perquisites of offi'Ce ; nor shall any 
Judge of the Court of Appeals, Justice of the Supreme Court, or Judge 
of a Court of Eecord in the cities of New York, Brooklyn, or Buffiilo, 
practise as an attorney or counsellor in any Court of Eecord in this 
State, or act as referee. 

Sec. 22. The Legislature may authorize the judgments, decrees, and 
decisions of any Court of Record of original civil jurisdiction, estab- 
lished in a city, to be removed for review, directly into the Court of 
Appeals. 

Sec. 23, The Legislature shall provide for the speedy puhlication 
of all statutes, and also for the appointment, by the justices of the 
Supreme Court designated to hold general terms, of a reporter of the 
decisions of that court. All laws and judicial decisions shall be free 
for publication by any person. 

Sec 24. The first election of judges of the Court of Appeals, and 
of the three additional judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the 
city and county of New York, shall take place on such day, between 
the first Tuesday of April and the second Tuesday in June, next after 
the adoption of this article, as may be provided by law. The Court 
of Appeals, the Commissioners of Appeals, and the additional judges 
of the said Court of Common Pleas, shall respectively enter upon 
their duties on the first Monday of July thereafter. 

Sec. 25. Surrogates, Justices of the Peace, and local judicial oficers 
provided for in Section Sixteen, in office when this article shall take 
effect, shall hold their respective offices until the expiration of their 
terms. 

Sec 26. Courts of Special Sessions shall have such jurisdiction of 
offences of the grade of misdemeanors as may be prescribed by 
law. 

Sec 27. For the relief of Surrogates' Courts^ the Legislature may 
confer upon Courts of Record, in any county having a population ex- 
ceeding four hundred thousand, the powers and jurisdiction of Sur- 
rogates, with authority to try issues of fact by jury, in probate 
cases. 



344 



APPENDIX 



ARTICLE VTL 

Section 1. After paying the expense* of collection, superintendence, 
and ordinary n-pairs, ilu're tilmll be n J and si'l apart in each 

fi8C«d year, out of the rev<-nue8 of liie 6ute canals in each v 
<•, g on the firet day of June, one thou*and eight Inn; ;: i 

•jm of one million and thn-e hundrt*d ih' . i:.! 
w I day of Juno, one ihou^uwi! • i Kf lunnli, ! 1 
•11 thni time tlie sum of one i 
1 each fi«'al year, as a 

t part of 
at liic tune firet u: 



nun : •; 
(i ■ • 

ti:-.. -. : •■ 

dred ti> 
interest and r- 
tlie canal < ' 
three h 
shall bv \\ . 
ing fund »liiiu ••« 
Skc. 2. Aft. r 
tliw art«<-!r t}. 
plus re 



; fund U^ |»ay the 
I calK-d 



.k. I. ;r.'J 



:i to be b« 

rtl ntid it; 



Bute 



tl)o III I •l.iv of June, one ' 
■um of three hundred An<l titty ti 
asu' :n aliall. have Ux>n It 

said I.: . to |>ay t' 

cipal ol ti 

Ifi 1 111. i»i :ii, ; ,, . , 

ff. tn t 



.1.1 



'" the first section nf 

I out of I 

■1 yrar, rommmcing on 

; forty -ftix, tljo 

<i fi(>Uar^ until the tjme when 

irt, under the 

* n |.r-n- 

^r as a 



.... .1 . 



of i; i lJ»e general fund debt, u. 

loans of the 8ute credit to railroad cc 
pay the interest thereon, and abw Ui- 
loaned to i- 



*M1 



r ouu aii lor Ofi a 



th«» r 



ari'l 

• ■ • 

of any part of the i: 

be deferred by reason of the pnonfy r- 

of this article, the sum so 

the then current r 



I>art 

_' the d<"bt for 

h have failed to 

I on Stat' « 

{•aid tltc t 

' ■' ) . \\ ■ "•- • 1 ; 

...1 ^. 1 

. and if the \ l 

fund shall at any timo 

•c<l in the First i 



quarlerlv ii s at 

I, 

UU> w lUi ill'J lU^i li^lii-'' "i i*J«" V nU- 






of collection. - ten- 

rs of the canaU, and the sums appropriated by the 

• SnlMtitated for Section ThrM of Article Sem of the original Coostltiitlan, 
by amendment of lS6i. 



CONSTITUTION OF STATE OF NEW YORK. 345 

first and second sections of this article, there shall be appropriated 
and set apart in each fiscal year, out of the surplus revenues of the 
canals, as a sinking fund, a sum sufficient to pay the interest as it falls 
due, and extinguish the principal within eighteen years, of any loan 
made under this section ; and if the said sinking fund shall not be 
sufficient to redeem any part of the principal at the stipulated times 
of payment, or to pay any part of the interest of such loans as stipu- 
lated, the means to satisfy any such deficiency shall be procured on 
the credit of the said sinking fund. After complying with the fore- 
going provisions, there shall be paid annually out of said revenues, 
into the treasury of the State, two hundred thousand dollars, to de- 
fray the necessary expenses of government. The remainder shall, in 
each fiscal year, be applied to meet the appropriations for the enlarge- 
ment and completion of the canals mentioned in this section, until 
the said canals shall be completed. In each fiscal year thereafter the 
remainder shall be disposed of in such manner as the Legislature may 
direct, but shall at no time be anticipated or pledged for more than 
one year in advance. The Legislature shall annually, during the next 
four years, appropriate to the enlargement of the Erie, the Oswego, 
the Cayuga, and Seneca Canals, and to the completion of the Black 
River and Genesee Valley Canals, and for the enlargement of the 
locks of the Champlain Canal, whenever, from dilapidation or decay, 
it shall be necessary to rebuild them, a sum not exceeding two mil- 
lions two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The remainder of the 
revenues of the canals, for the current fiscal year in which such ap- 
propriation is made, shall be applied to meet such appropriation ; and 
if the same shall be deemed insufficient, the Legislature shall, at the 
same session, provide for the deficiency by loan. The Legislature 
shall also borrow one million and five hundred thousand dollars, to 
refund to the holders of the canal revenue certificates issued under 
the provisions of chapter four hundred and eighty-five of the Laws 
of the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, the amount 
received into the treasury thereon; but no interest to accrue after 
July first, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, shall be paid on 
such certificates. The provisions of Section Twelve of this article, re- 
quiring every law for borrowing money to be submitted to the peo- 
ple, shall not apply to the loans authorized by this section. No part 
of the revenues of the canals, or of the funds borrowed under this 
section, shall be paid or applied upon in consequence of any alleged 
contract made under chajDter four hundred and eighty-five of the 
Laws of the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, except 
to pay for work done or materials furnished prior to the first day of 
June, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two. The rates of toll 
on persons and property transported on the canals shall not be 



346 APPESDIX. 

I. iuccd below those for tlie year one thouMind oi^'ht hundrod and 
vo, except by the Canal Board wiih i^e concurrence of the 
1 iturc. All contract* Jorv"^-" "r niatenals oi' ">v . *nal lUiall 

i ;.. « ifi, •»,.. iM i-,,ii who s! r to do or pi "•ame at 

L y for their jH-rfonna:. 

Sec. 4. The r /the «S'ta/* apainsl any ir alitl company 

to pay the interenl and redeem the principal of the Mock of ll»e Sute 

loaned or atlvanceil to Mich ct)mi>any, fthall l>e fairly and not 

d or C' and the ' i^ 

• ..: I, aiul ' " * ' • 11" • •"" " "^ 

,„,.. ,,-vi.. •■ - «■ • : • tlM- \ tl'<- ful- 

• 1 .f nil V ....,: .».- . .f ' ' ^ rO 

; may be < .«*d by law. 

8ic 5. If the *i» ■ ; ' nd; or eitlicr of them provided in this 
artirle, shall prove t lo enable the 8ute, on li»e credit of 

such fund, to procure the i. • > ■ '■-■ the cUims of llie rs 

of the State as lJ»ey b. ' " o shall b. a^ 

5 ■ .-aiif ti. ■■ • :'»T 

' • ■ • V 



r.rl . r t?inn t' ;r*. shall, with <, '>, st th« 

it, l»e r the treasury, for the uw of the Sute, 

out of the canal revenue*, an noon as it can bo done c<' lly with 

the just rijfhti* of the . - the said canal <: 

n. The I^'pii^la n«»l »«•//, /«"*, or i j.-.- 

ot any of tJp ... I !1 rtaiuuij uif pf..j»iriy 

of the St • 

c. .. 7 ntf nf the nnit itpring* 

b. n>*y 

Rnd c for the use of the salt may bo 

sold by a v of law and under the direction of the « >«ion- 

crs of the I^nd ' for tlie puqKwe of inventing the moin-y« arisinj? 

th< 1 in other lands alike c but by such sale and 

the appregmle quantity oi Uicsc umds sliall not be dimm- 

Src. 8. Xo n>""'"* -'"*ll ever be /wn'^ «*>!>! nf the trcasnry of this 
State, or any oi . or any nf t! r its management 

except in pumuanre o/an oppr>^ n by law ; nor unless such pay- 

ment be matle within two yean* next after tlie passa^re of such appro- 
priation act; and every such law, making a new appropriation or 
continuing or revivinp an : . phall " ""v the 

sum n ' ^ the oi.;. . i i ' '\» to md it 

shall ii«n L»v suiii' Kill for such law i.^ .v.^i to an^ v....i; ..• •• to fix 
such sum. 



CONSTITUTION OF STATE OF NEW YORK. 347 

Sec. 9. The credit of the State shall not, in any manner, be given 
or loaned to or in aid of any individual association or corporation. 

Sec. 10. The State may, to meet casual deficits or failures in reve- 
nues, or for expenses not provided for, contract debts, but such debts, 
direct and contingent, singly or in the aggregate, shall not at any time 
exceed one million of dollars, and the moneys arising from the loans 
creating such debts shall be apphed to the purpose for which they 
were obtained or to repay the debt so contracted, and to no other 
purpose whatever. 

Sec 11. In addition to the above limited power to contract delis, 
the State may contract debts to repel invasion, suppress insurrection, 
or defend the State in war ; but the money arising from the contract- 
ing of such debts shall be applied to the purpose for which it was 
raised or to repay such debts, and to no other purpose whatever. 

Sec. 12. Except the debts specified in the tenth and eleventh sec- 
tions of this article, no debt shall be hereafter contracted by or on 
behalf of this State, unless such delt shall be authorized hy a law, 
for some single work or object, to be distinctly specified therein; and 
such law shall impose and provide for the collection of a direct an- 
nual tax to pay, and sufficient to pay the interest on such debt as it 
falls due, and also to pay and discharge the principal of such debt 
within eighteen years from the time of the contracting thereof No 
such law shall take effect until it shall at a general election have been 
submitted to the people, and have received a majority of all the votes 
cast for and against it, at such election. On the final passage of such 
bill in either House of the Legislature, the question shall be taken by 
ayes and noes, to be cluly entered on the journals thereof, and shall 
be : " Shall this bill pass, and ought the same to receive the sanction 
of the people ? " The Legislature may at any time, after the approval 
of such law by the people, if no debt shall have been contracted in 
pursuance thereof, repeal the same ; and may at any time, by law, 
forbid the contracting of any further debt or liability under such law ; 
but the tax imposed by such act, in proportion to the debt and lia- 
bility which may have been contracted, in pursuance of such law, 
shall remain in force and be irrepealable, and be annually collected, 
until the proceeds thereof shall have made the provision hereinbefore 
specified to pay and discharge the interest and principal of such debt 
and liability. The money arising from any loan or stock creating 
such debt or liability shall be applied to the w^ork or object specified 
in the act authorizing such debt or liability, or for the repayment of 
such debt or liability, and for no other purpose whatever. No such 
law shall be submitted to be voted on within three months after its 
passage, or at any general election when any other law, or any bill, 
or any amendment to the Constitution, shall be submitted to be voted 
for or against. 



348 APPESDIX. 

Sec. 13. Every ^aw whicli iinpoM?«, continues, or rerirc* a Ux, Khali 
rly Ktnte the tax and (' to which it is to be applied; 

oiia iL shall not be suflicient ic» ivi^ i io any other law to fix audi tax 
or obj<»cU 

Sec. 14. On the final pMnge, in either Hooae of the Legislature, 
of every act trhieh impotn, continue*, or revive* m tax or araatm a 
dfbt or cliarpe, or make«, continue*, or revivcB any a| :i of 

pubhc or trust money, or pr .or re l ea ae a, dij*ch . tr com- 

niutofl any claim or deman<l ol Uie 8late, llu* quntion t^iknii Ihs taken 
6y • " -hall »>e dulyer- ' ' - ^ and 

•'-,,;. . . . !lU-rS T-1--'--' • .... .U all 

ARTICLE VIIL 

Pcrriox 1. CorpnraliimM may bo formed under general laws; bat 
ahall not bo rmali'd by special act, except for municipal purposes, and 
in cases w •» tho ; Logwlature, the objwts of ilje 

t>oratX<> '•© aiLaiUcu umicr ^t-noral laws. All gon«*ral laws 

----- u (w i- |>iiMed pumiant to this section may bo altered from 
: :.;uo, or rtTM-iilA^l. 

Srrv 2. />i«v ; itporations shall be sectired by anch individual 

y of the coqwratora and other means as may be prescribed by 
1 i ■ ■ 

Swo. 3. Tlie term "c ."as used in this article, sliall bo con- 

strued to include all a~ 'jg 

' ' r;\iu-^'v>s ut curpurai4pus not |»osscs«cu by 

' .M J...... \' •' "" --'• '■ — -haU have the ri^rht 

I . _.. i shall be '^ like caae« a^*^ r.au 

wr.d peraooa. 

8n. 4. The LegidatDre shall have no power to pass any act grant- 
ing any apecial ehari/r far banl-img purport; but corporations or 
aas< l>e formed for such purposes under general laws. 

bao. 6. The !.• Khali have no power to pass any law sano- 

T* ^ 'in any maixiicr of tpetie 

} *• I'v sv" •"-•• , ivv>(^_iaiiijtj^ \ji i_-€Fi jn»i iiuwii (.^'uiiig bank- 

1.. :-. : ;iny d« 

Sec. 6. The I.. shall nmride by law for ry of aU 

bilU or note*, i .- l or put in c: .<)n as money, and shall require 

ample security for the rp<lemption of the same in specie. 

Skc. 7. The »tockhalHrr» in every corporation and j- >^k asso- 

ciation for banking puq>o>»«-s. i«.«tiinp bank-notes or any kttid of paper 
< 'to rirrulaie as m art<«r the fir ' "^ Jannary, ooe 

UivwMUui eight hundred auvi wiiy, shall be ut^uttuuMM^ rmpom§SbU^ to 



CONSTITUTION OF STATE OF NEW YORK, 349 

the amount of tlieir respective share or shares of stock in any such 
corporation or association, for all its debts and liabilities of every kind, 
contracted after the said first day of January, one thousand eight hun- 
dred and fifty. 

Sec. 8. In case of the insolvency of any hank or banking associa- 
tion, the bill-holders thereof shall be entitled to preference in payment 
over all other creditors of such bank or association. 

Sec. 9. It shall be the duty of the Legislature to provide for the 
organization of cities and incorporated villages^ and to restrict their 
power of taxation, assessment, borrowing money, contracting debts, 
and loaning their credit, so as to prevent abuses in assessments, and 
in contracting debt by such municipal corporation. 

ARTICLE IX. 

Section 1. The capital of the Common School Fund, the capital of 
the Literature Fund, and the capital of the United States Deposit 
Fund, shall be respectively preserved inviolate. The revenues of the 
said Common School Fund shall be apphed to the support of common 
schools, the revenues of the said Literature Fund shall be applied to 
the support of academies, and the sum of twenty-five thousand dol- 
lars of the revenues of the United States Deposit Fund shall each 
year be appropriated to and made a part of the capital of the said 
Common School Fund. 

ARTICLE X. 

Section 1. Sheriffs, clerics of counties, including the Register and 
Clerk of the city and county of New York, coroners, and district- 
attorneys shall be chosen by the electors of the respective counties 
once in every three years, and as often as vacancies shall happen. 
Sheriffs shall hold no other office, and be ineligible for the next three 
years after the termination of their offices. They may be required 
by law to renew their security from time to time : and, in default of 
giving such new security, their offices shall be deemed vacant. But 
the county shall never be made responsible for the acts of the Sheriff. 
The Governor may remove any officer in this section mentioned, 
within the term for which he shall have been elected ; giving to such 
officer a copy of the charges against him, and an opportunity of being 
heard in his defence. 

Sec 2. All county officers whose election or appointment is not 
provided for by this Constitution shall be elected by the electors of 
the respective counties, or appointed by the Boards of Supervisors, 
or other county authorities, as the Legislature shall direct. All city, 



350 APPESDIX. 

town, and village ofTiccra, whose election or appointment is not pro- 
vided for by tliis Constitution, sliall be « ' l»y the electors • 
citieft, towni», and villapej*, or of soiii '' -of, or appou. -l 
by t«uch aulhoritit's t* • •* a« the Lt^.'L.iv.i. ••.«ijmatc for ili;a 
p......... W\ ,.f5.. r , whose election or -mrnt i* not r»r..- 

>.„ _.jrbyt! m, and all offict-: 

after be created by Uw, sliall b« elected by the j or apjxiintrd 

afi the Legislature may direct. 

Sec. 3. When the duration of any of^t is not proviil«'<l by • 
(• n, it may be <-d by law; and if i 

oUicu ftiu^ti be held durmg uic pleasare of tlie auuiumv i uic 

appointment. 

Skc. 4. The electing all officen> nnmrMl !n this article sliall be pre- 
tcribed by bw. 

Skc. 6. The Legislature shall provide for fii'inf vacanrie* in oflicc, 
and, in caae of clecUve officem, no penion ; to fill a vacancy 

sliall hold his office by virtue of such ap longer than Uie 

oommeneement of the ; • next fcutc«?*.Hiiug the firet anuual 

»->i.c. o. II. * .» ••' <• '«■"• •hall begin on the 

firnt day of J ihc I>cpL ^Vr»ll crerv rear, awemWe 

on tl»e first T luary, uuIcm a •. . be a] d 

by law. 

Sec 7. Vt' shall be made by law for the removal, for mis- 

conduct or malversation in office, of all officers (except ' ► whose 

powers and d re not local or li " '• who > * <l 

at pen«*ral cU'cli ' ' for suppi^iui; vncaucies cr«_ai<_u u; ?uch 

removal. 

Sec. 8. Tlie LcgisUture may derlnre the cases in which any office 
sliall t«- flnrmr,! vafont, when no p: a is made for that purpose 

in I. 

ARTICLE XL 

Sectio!* 1. Tlie militia of '" ~ ' ^11, at ail tniu" hfrf.ia*r. Ik* 

nmv<l ■ ■ ' ' .^nd in : ' ^'- 

iinnts .'i <'i any n '^ 

I.- .«»d by . 

Sec 2. Militin ojjlrer* shall be chn«»n or appointed owi: 

Captain^ subalterns, and non-com ' officers shall be chosen 

by the written voles of the members of their respective cor <; 

field officers of regime: - by the written vutes 

of ' ssioneii omccr.s u; lucr '^ wid sep*- 

raU; uuiUuyus; brigadier-genenda and ...^-v-w — ^„^.^.^ by the lield 



CONSTITUTION OF STATE OF NEW YORK. 351 

officers of their respective brigades ; major-generals, brigadier-gen- 
erals, and commanding officers of regiments or separate battalions 
shall appoint the staff officers to their respective divisions, brigades, 
regiments, or separate battalions. 

Sec. 3. The Governor shall nominate^ and, with the consent of the 
Senate, appoint all major-generals, and the commissary-general. The 
adjutant-general and other chiefs of staff departments, and aides-de- 
camp of the Commander-in-Chief, shall be appointed by the Grovernor, 
and their commissions shall expire with the time for which the Gov- 
ernor shall have been elected. The commissary-general shall hold 
his office for two years. He shall give security for the faitliful exe- 
cution of the duties of his office, in such manner and amount as shall 
be prescribed by law. 

Sec 4. The Legislature shall, by law; direct the time and manner 
of electing militia officers^ and of certifying their elections to the 
Grovernor, 

Sec. 5. The commissioned oncers of the militia shall be commis- 
sioned hy the Governor ; and no commissioned officer shall be re- 
moved from office, unless by the Senate on the recommendation of 
the Grovernor, sta,ting the grounds on which such removal is recom- 
mended, or by the decision of a court-martial, pursuant to law. The 
present officers of the militia shall hold their commissions subject to 
removal as before provided. 

Sec. 6. In case the mode of election and appointment of militia 
officers hereby directed, shall not be found conducive to the improve- 
ment of the militia, the Legislature may abolish the same and provide 
by law for their appointment and removal, if two tliirds of the mem- 
bers present in each House shall concur therein. 



ARTICLE XIL 

Section 1. Members of the Legislature, and all officers, executive 
and judicial, except such inferior officers as may be by law exempted, 
shall, before they enter on the duties of their respective offices, take 
and subscribe the following oath or affirmation : — 

" I do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that I will 
support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution 
of the State of New York ; and that I will faithfully discharge the 
duties of the office of according to the best of my ability." 

And no other oath, declaration, or test shall be required as a quali- 
fication for any office or pubhc trust. 



S5S APPESDIX. 



ARTICLE XIII. 

Sbotioh 1. Any nmmrJmeni at unendmeDta to this Constitution 
may be proposed in o miU ABiembly ; and if ilic same shall 

be agreed to by a majority of the members elected to each of the 
two IIouMS, such propo»<ed araendnjcnt or amcndiucDts shall be en- 
tered on llioir joumab* with the yeaa and nays taken ther' d 
rif'TTod to tl»e Legislature to be chosen at the next general cit-vuua 
01 senator^, and nha' ' • tiblisljed fur three months prcrioua to the 

tirao of making suci e; and if in tlic L.-Ti«latiire so next chosen 

as aforesaid ^nr\\ nrnrwiM^l amendment or am< its shall be agreed 

to by a ni . the n. «*<1 to each House, tlien it 

shall bo the duly of the Legislature to ' such propose*! amend- 

ment or amc: 's to the people, in such mamicr and at such time 

as ti»e LegiaUiur pn-jtcrilx* ; and if llie people tihall approve and 

smendux ' v ,,. » mn - ' v '' •' ' •- rs 
<TH of Uu i*. ^«»iatunj . - U 

i..... ... .-. .V. ^..\A shall beoome part of tl»' * 

Sic. '1 At the prneral eleetion to be held in the year . n 

.. and in each twentieth year thereat -d 

alAo St such t the I.<egialatare may by Uw provide, the quesuon, 

•'Shall tluTo be a Convention to revue the Constitution and amend 
the same?" idtall In? decided by tlio electors ■ -d to rote for 

m«-: '>f the I^'v'wlature ; and in caao a ' v <»f the electors 

io . ' ■ • ■ - • Kuch cleclton, shall dc* .-.* .a lavor of a Con- 

vei.;. "w, the Legialature at iti« next jsr^wion shidl 

provide!.. eleetion of delegates to f . :i. 

Done in Convention at the capilol in tliis city of Albany tl»e ninth 
day of Octolier, one tliousand eight hundred and sixty -six, and of the 
Independence of the United Sutes of America the ninety-first 

JOUN TIUCY, Pretident, 
and DeUyats from Uu county of CKeiUingo. 
JAMm F. RtabbitcXt \ 
H. W. Rtroxo, > iSecreteriet. 

Fr. Seoeb, ) 



CONSTITUTION OF STATE OF NEW YORK. 353 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 

Adopted November 3, 1846. 



ARTICLE I. 



Section 1. No person to be disfranchised. 

Sec. 2. Trial by jury. 

Sec. 3. Religious liberty. 

Sec. 4. Writ of habeas corpus. 

• Sec. 5. Bail, fines. 

Sec. 6. G-rand jury. 

Sec. 7. Private property — Private roads. 

Sec. 8. Freedom of speech and of the press. 

Sec. 9. Two-third bills. 

Sec. 10. Right of petition — Divorces — Lotteries. 

Sec. 11. Right of property in lands — Escheats. 

Sec. 12. Feudal tenures abolished. 

Sec. 13. Allodial tenure. 

Sec. 14. Certain leases invalid. 

Sec. 15. Fines and quarter sales abolished. 

Sec. 16. Sale of lands. 

Sec. 17. Old colony lavt^s and acts of the Legislature — Common 
law — Commissioners to be appointed — their duties. 

Sec. 18. Grants of land since 1775 — Prior grants. 

ARTICLE IL 

Section 1. QuaUfication of voters — Freehold required for a man 
of color. 

Sec. 2. Persons excluded from right of suffrage. 

Sec. 3. Certain employments not to affect residence of voters. 

Sec. 4. Laws to be passed. 

Sec. 5. Election to be by ballot. 

ARTICLE IIL 

Section 1. Legislative powers. 
Sec. 2. Senate, number of — Assembly, number of. 
Sec. 3. State divided into thirty-two senatorial districts — bounda- 
ries thereof — Board of Supervisors of the city of New York to 

23 



354 



APPESlilX. 



divide the county into four Senate diatrict« — Certificate, &c,, lobe 

nied 

Sao. 4- Census to Ijo taken in Ijvjo, and every ion years — Senate 

districts, how alt^n'd. 

S»c. 5. MemUrx of AflMinbly, how apportioned and choeen — 
Boards of SnrMrviaors in certain countiea to tlie same into 

Aasembly d — Dew^ption of Assembly district* to be filial — 

Contents of v . i slalure to reapportion members 

of Assembly — Each county enuticd to one member — UamiltOD 

County. 

SttJ, 6. Pay of m.!T)Kvrs — Addit=— ' — peoMtiOQ to Speaker. 



• •••.•iv»' ail ..j-j- 



Ssa 7. No mr -^ 

Sia a r-^' 

Sn. 9. i f elet 

Sbc. 10. Powers of each House 

Sea U. JoumaU to be k 

SwL 12. No member to l>e «| 

Sic 13. ^ 
Sw. 14. 
8w. 15. 

Sao. 16. K 

Sic 17. Local 
visors. 



.ivnt. 



\ from heintr membcra. 



«fcc 

House. 

"TT fhe member: nvinirod «tr. 
lf>ral hilt 
. .'cd on B ; -cr- 



SlCTIO!( 1. 

Sic2. I: 

Sic.3. T 
Governor. 

Skc4. 1> • 

Sec, 5. V 

Sec 6. I 

Prr-. 7. K . 
r it of tiie . 

Sic 8. Comp« 

Sic 9. Bills to be pr 



ARTICLE IV. 

;ro power, how Tested. 

•ns of Governor, 
id manner of electing Governor and Lieutenant- 



'. r ot (t r — His coropenaalibn. 

- ' •■ •• Governor. 

• on Lieutenant-Governor. 

of L int-Goremor — To bo 

t as Governor in certain 

of Li emor in certain 

' I to liic Gvvemor f viurc — If re- 



turned by him with objccUoos, how diapoaed of — liois to be returned 
within ten days. 



ARTICLE V. 

Sectio!* 1. State nfliirvr*, \\'^\^• «^lo<'iod. a? 
Sic 2. Sutc Engineer and Surveyor, ii-*', 
offioei 



- of ofll<X'. 

Uobeo, and term of 



CONSTITUTION OF STATE OF NEW YORK. 355 

Sec. 3. Canal Commissioners, how chosen, and terms of office. 

Sec. 4, Inspectors of State Prisons, how elected, and terms of 
office. 

Sec. 5. Commissioners of the Land Office — Commissioners of the 
Canal Fund — Canal Board. 

Sec. 6. Powers and duties of Boards, &c. 

Sec. 7. Treasurer may be suspended by Governor. 

Sec. 8. Certain offices abolished. 



ARTICLE YI. 

Section 1. Court of Impeachment. 

Secs. 2, 3. Court of Appeals, and vacancies in, how filled. 

Secs. 4, 5. Commissioners of Appeal to hear pending causes, powers 
of, and vacancies in, how filled. 

Sec. 6. Supreme Court how composed, jurisdiction of. 

Sec. 7. General Terms. 

Sec. 8. What judges or justices may sit on Appeals and "Writs of 
Error — Equity cases. 

Sec. 9. Vacancies in Supreme Court, how fiUed. 

Sec. 10. Judges of Court of Appeals and Supreme Court to hold 
no other office. 

Sec. 11. Judicial officers how removable. 

Sec. 12. Superior Courts and Courts of Common Pleas in New 
York, Brooklyn, and Buffalo. 

Sec. 13. Justices of Supreme Court how chosen and official terms. 

Sec. 14. Compensation of judges and justices. 

Sec. 15. County Courts, Courts of Sessions, Justices of the Peace, 
and Surrogates. 

Sec. 16. Vacancies in County and Surrogate Courts. 

Sec. 17. Election or appointment of judges of Court of Appeals 
and Supreme Court to be determined by people in ISTovember, 1873. 

Sec. 18. Justices of the Peace, how elected and removed. 

Sec. 19. Inferior local courts, how to be constituted. 

Sec. 20. Clerks of Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. 

Sec. 21. Fees and perquisites not to be received by any judicial 
officer except Justices of the Peace — Judges and Justices of Courts 
of Record not to practise as attorneys, counsellors, or referees. 

Sec. 22. Removal of judgments, orders, or decrees in city courts to 
Court of Appeals for review. 

Sec. 23. Publication of laws and decisions of courts. 

Sec 24. Time of election of Judges of Court of Appeals and Com- 
mon Pleas in New York, and commencement of their official term. 



356 APPESDIX. 

Sec. 25. Surropat^s Justices of the Peace, and local judicial of- 
ficer, to hold • u of tlicir lorin. 

Sec. 26. Jui;"i4« ii -ii -i ■ .-uii.- " -—•ial session. 

Sec. 27. Towore of Surr"'atp l .. . in certain cases to be con- 
ferred upon Courts of lUxt . 

ARTICLE Vn. 

9i,-nftx 1. Canal debt — Pinkir- Fund — June 1, 1846, $ 1,- 
3' — June 1, 18^, $l,7< 

Stc. 2. Ocnerml Fund debt — 8i! ^. : • Fund, $ 350,000 ; after <- r' a :. 

period, $ 1. 

Sec. 3. « 

priated to • 

— Certain " j^-'^'j — • 

Dually to !>• 
Srr 4 1 - to be releMsd or 

com; ! 

Sec. 5. I ire shall by equitable taxes, iDcreaM the revenues 

of the S cases. 

Sic t>. • uf liiv ^>uic not to be iMaod or aold. 

Sio. 7. 

Sic 8. n billsL 

Sic 9. .^ ..t tn h«- IahtiivI 

Sec. 10. P. 

8ic 11. Dehu tn repel inviuuon. &c, may be contrar* 

Btc. 12. Li: \ of • vlive power in the creation of 

debtsw 

Sec 13. Manner of parsing bi* . x. 

Sec. 14. Same subjecL 

ARTICLE VnL 

Bkctiojc 1. r-— t-.^** ."^ ^ow created. 

Sec. 2. P.^ 

Sic. 3. . I. 

Sec. 4. ' .arters for ban> irpofles. 

Sec. 5. Specie payment*. 

Sec. 6. Registry of bills or noteiL 

Sec. 7. T ' lual re- 'y of stockboidcra. 

Sec. 8. 1 v oi .. -.r-^....^ 

Sec. 9. Lcg..^...i .re to p; ... .ncorporation of cities and 

villages, and to de(me powers thereof in certain 



I 



CONSTITUTION OF STATE OF NEW YORK. 357 



ARTICLE IX. 

Section 1. Common School, Literature, and United States Deposit 
Funds. 

ARTICLE X. 

Section 1. Sheriffs, County Clerks, Register and Clerk of New- 
York, Coroners, and District- Attorneys — how elected and removed. 

Secs. 2, 3, 4, 5. Other county, town, city, village, or other officers, 
how elected or appointed — Duration of official term, and vacancies, 
how filled. 

Sec. 6. Political and legislative year. 

Secs. 7, 8. Provision for removal of public officers, and vacancies. 



ARTICLE XI. 

Provision for arming and disciplining the Militia of the State — Elec- 
tion and appointment of officers — Commissary-G-eneral, Adjutant- 
General, and Staff of Commander-in-Chief. 

ARTICLE XIL 
Oaths of office prescribed. 

ARTICLE XIIL 

Amendments to Constitution, how to be made — Provision for 
future State Conventions. 



S58 



APPESIilX. 



COUNTIES AND POPULATION OF THE STATE OF 

NEW YojiK 



Oooran* 


MB. 


1810. 


1818. 


UBOi 


tta. 


18a. 


k*i^ 


AlUny 


M.TOi 


«,an 


77;w 


tt^ 


la.oRi 


ii8^e 


lU/DI 


Alkfluur, 


n^ •» J 


»JM 


n.«a 


a;nB 


a>io 


41 ai 


40 jn 


^VVW^^SXB^^ V 




a;w 


abou) 


8o.a» 


M,ffiO 


a;B06 


a,n8 


OaitAinaga*, . . . 


-*;*^, 


sgm 


:t ■ 


asjHo 


a^uv) 


isjms' 


42 ^% 


l«;u|pk, 


• 49^4i 


aoivvi 


4 


»/4W 


as^ri 


&ft-e7 


»,7Jt» 


ChMlMiqaA, . 














- - >^ 


*J^MM*tt 










»>ii 


*i».u.** 




mnton . 










«4« 


4.'. TH'. 


i 


I •« . \ « «n», .... 
















UutrlKM, 
















RrW, . 
















Kms. 
















rnkoklla 
















ruiiod. 


U^. 








JSi 


;:« ,!!££, 


xt^i- 




VI4A 








'«4 


8M» 
SJDM 


«.7-> 


r 


ai;!^!! 








M8 


«>.8S 




. 


6a/Mi 


^ 






i*) 


ajasi 


• 




S/K7 


\'f\\& 


* 




.« 


r9.m 


4> 




!«.••" 


i* k •. 






»"«< 


'»» '.*• 




' i > . 
















M t,r..-.' 
















■ • . 


liS^ 
























■•i» 


1 ^•'■^ 


' S^ 


• 












. -J 
I 




• 


SB 




1 

* ** 

'. • ! 

si 


»/ 




<» 


ajio 




<K. 




i 


».' 


^ «> 


-V.J.AI Vf 


■•*» " 








■- 


».' 


4«7 


1 aja 


1 88.741 




!•.-->» 




i^vk 


1*.' 


r-" 


•»^ "■« 


«k^ 1 . 


, 


82,aift 




SUM 


a.' 








, 


a». • 


xs 


1 48^ 


a. 








• 


u 

as 


«B 


I 14>W 


17! 








• 




, 


• • 








• 


88.: 

a.; 




»^1 










Y*lw, 


19,7M 


»,OM 


».777 


»,ao 

8, 


iT« 






Total, .... 


i,iaB^jtg8M^IM 









Il 



CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS. 359 



CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS, 

As Established by Chap. 454, Laws of 1862, Passed Apeil 23, 1862. 

District. 

I. — The counties of Suffolk, Queens, and Richmond shall com- 
pose the first district. 
II. — The sixth, eighth, ninth, tenth, twelfth, fourteenth, six- 
teenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth wards of the city of 
Brooklyn, and the towns of Flatbush, Flatlands, Gravesend, 
New Lots, and New Utrecht in the county of Kings, shall 
compose the second district. 

III. — The first, second, third, fourth, fifth, seventh, eleventh, 

thirteenth, fifteenth, and nineteenth wards of the city of 
Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, shall compose the third 
district. 

IV. — The first ward (including Governor's Island), second, third, 

fourth, fifth, sixth, and eighth wards of the city and county 
of New York shall compose the fourth district. 
Y. — The seventh, tenth, thirteenth, and fourteenth wards of the 
city and county of New York shall compose the fifth dis- 
trict. 
YI. — The ninth, fifteenth, and sixteenth wards of the city and 

county of New York shall compose the sixth district. 
YII. — The eleventh and seventeenth wards of the city and county 

of New York shall compose the seventh district. 

YIII. — The eighteenth, twentieth, and twenty-first wards of the city 

and county of New York shall compose the eighth district. 

IX. — The twelfth ward (including Randall's Island and Ward's 

Island), nineteenth ward (including Black well's Island), and 

twenty-second ward of the city and county of New York 

shall compose the ninth district. 

X. — The counties of Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam shall 

compose the tenth district. 
XI. — The counties of Orange and Sullivan shall compose the 

eleventh district. 
XII. — The counties of Dutchess and Columbia shall compose the 

twelfth district. 
XIII, — The counties of Ulster and Greene shall compose the thir- 
teenth district, 
XIY. — The counties of Albany and Schoharie shall compose the 
fourteenth district. 



300 APPESDIX. 

Dl.«TRirT. 

XV. TTie rnunties of Rft.-. l.wr and Wft^l.inp^ton fhall compos© 

ihe fi" 
XVT. — T! -I '■' "i ii u, Kasex, add Clinton shaU compofle 

XVTT TK. I^wrence and Franklin nhall compoM 

nth diislrict. 
X VIII. — The touniiwi of Fulton. Hamilton, Mont<romorv, Saratoga, 
and Schenectaily ^hall iomjK>«o iJie ei ncX, 

XIX. — The • H of l)«i«w:r t»po, aiiU K.i. 

XX. UK- , ... . \vi«, and TT.rlMn..r shall 

cr>?'>»- :..!.• twei!' 
XXI —Tl. .lyofOn. ; . ti.r twenly-fi: 

Irict 
XXII. — Th«> • ' of Mmluxm and Oswego ahall compose the 

lw«nity-«»co«>nd Mi-trn't. 

XXUI, Thr ' ' ig» »nd Corllnml hhall rninj>o,se 

tl»e tw 
XXIV. — Til'- ^v«vne, and Seneca ahall ''»ni- 

p<> • 
X X V — T! :», *nd Yatea shall com- 

XXVI. — Tl^c' IJroome, and Scluiylcr 

nhall • -: twrnt . 

XXVII.— Tlie ' ' 

rorsf • '■.' ' 

XXVIII. — T^ ' .. —^ shall oompo'^' th^ 

tv. . ' 

XXIX. — Tho • '•« of <;•:.< ' ^ 'cara, and Wyomin. 

comprtw tlje twenty-ninlli ■ 
XXX. — The county of Erie ahall co: tJurtielh 

XXXI. — Tlie ' < of ( i and LalUr.ir. ' ; ;.a.. . : .- 

pote Ui6 Uurty-fir.-i 



SENATE DISTRICTS. 361 



SENATE DISTRICTS, 

As Organized by the Legislature, April 25, 1866. 

District. 

I, — Counties of Suflfolk, Queens, and Richmond. 
II. — First, second, third, fourth, fifth, seventh, eleventh, thir- 
teenth, fifteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth wards of the 
city of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings. 
III. — Sixth, eighth, ninth, tenth, twelfth, fourteenth, sixteenth, 
seventeenth, and eighteenth wards *6f the city of Brook- 
lyn, and the towns of Flatbush, Flatlands, Gravesend, New 
Lots, and New Utrecht, of the county of Kings. 
rV. — First, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, thirteenth, 
and fourteenth wards of the city and county of New 
York. 
V. — Eighth, ninth, fifteenth, and sixteenth wards of the city 
and county of New York. 
VI. — Tenth, eleventh, and seventeenth wards of the city and 

county of New York. 
VII. — Eighteenth, twentieth, and twenty-first wards of the city 

and county of New York. 
VIII. — Twelfth, nineteenth, and twenty-second wards of the city 
and county of New York. 
IX. — Counties of Westchester, Putnam, and Rockland. 

X. — Counties of Orange and Sullivan, 
XI. — Counties of Dutchess and Columbia. 
XII. — Counties of Rensselaer and Washington. 

XIII. — County of Albany. 

XIV. — Counties of Greene and Ulster. 

XV. — Counties of Saratoga, Montgomery, Fulton, Hamilton, and 

Schenectady. 
XVI, — Counties of Warren, Essex, and Clinton. 
XVII. — Counties of St. Lawrence and Franklin. 
XVIII. — Counties of Jefferson and Lewis. 
XIX, — County of Oneida. 
XX. — Counties of Herkimer and Otsego. 
XXI. — Counties of Oswego and Madison. 
XXII. — Counties of Onondaga and Cortland. 

XXIII. — Counties of Chenango, Delaware, and Schoharie. 

XXIV. — Counties of Broome, Tioga, and Tompkins. 



APPESDIX. 



GOVERNORS OF NEW YORK. 
COLONIAL 

Cornelius JAodbaen ICay, 

William Vt-rliulst, 

Peter Minuit, 

Wniii'-r Villi TwiiUr, 

Wilhmn KnU, ..... 

Pflru-^ '^* \i>.-\ijt, 

Hi.-Kn- . .:u, 

-H LoVfltti-C, . . 

Comeli« Kvertiw, Jr., ftiid a council of war, 
Anthony Colvi*. 

KiilMMIKl 



May 
AprU, 
M.u-ch 
May 

Aug. (X. 8.) 

September 






. 1 I ...1 V 



m-Ci*. 



„_. , L. . in-Clii'-^ 



(». ».) 



.... (M. It.) 

Aunwt 



Frmncui N 



)n. Lit 



iUlAfOVomor, 



.' I .Tune 

i Mardi 

ii.*.i.a;.: 1 ' r-iu-C:. ■ 

Bonjar 
Earl o: .■ 
John Nai.tHn 1 
Earl of l; 

Eldest Councillor present, Preeideni of the 
Council, ....... March 

John Nanfan, Licutcnant-GoYemor, . 

Lord (• • 'V, 

Lord I. 

Peter S.i.«;;. '. I'r. -.;.:.•, 

Richard Innvi. - v. I... .icuAiit-GoTemor 

Peter .^ *^. Pn -i-i. m, . 

Richard I '' y, Lieutenant-GoTemor 

Geraril :- li- N::..in, Pretudent, 

Robert liunter. 

Peter SohuyU-r, President, 

William Burnet ..... 

John Montgomerie, .... 

Rip Van Dam, Proiident, .... 

WilliAffi Coabj, 



mbcr 



Juno 
Aprd 

July 

September 

AT^rtl 

A .. . ; 



. 1624 

4, Ib'JU 

iGaa 

28, 1G38 

11, 1G47 

8, 1GC4 
17, l(iG8 

12, 1G73 
19, 1073 
10, 1074 

10, 1077 
7, 1078 

13, 1081 
j:, 1683 

11, 1688 

9, 1688 
3, 1689 

19, 1C91 

?n 1691 

3u, 1692 

13, 1698 

17, 1699 
24, 1700 

6, 1701 

19, 1701 

3, 1702 

18, 1708 
6, 1709 
n. 1709 

J."., 1709 

1, 1709 

10, 1710 

14, 1710 
21. 1719 
17, 1720 

15, 1728 
1, 1731 
1, 1732 



GOVERNORS OF NEW YORK. 



363 



George Clarke, President, .... 
G-eorge Clarke, Lieutenant-Grovernor, . 
George Clinton, ..... 

Sir Danvers Osborne, Bart., . . 
James De Lancey, Lieutenant-Governor . 
Sir Charles Hardy, Knt., 
James De Lancey, Lieutenant-Governor . 
Cadwallader Colden, President, 
Cadwallader Colden, Lieutenant-Governor, 

Robert Monckton, 

Cadwallader Colden, Lieutenant-Governor, 

Robert Monckton, 

Cadwallader Colden, Lieutenant-Governor, 
Sir Henry Moore, Bart,, 
Cadwallader Colden, Lieutenant-Governor, 
Earl of Dunmore, ..... 

William Try on, 

Cadwallader Colden, Lieutenant-Governor, 
"William Tryon, ..... 

James Robertson,* .... 
Andrew Elliott, Lieutenant-Governor,* . 



Peter van Brugh Livingston, 
Nathaniel Woodhull, President ^ro tern., . 
Abraham Yates, Jr., President ^ro tern., 
Nathaniel Woodhull, .... 

John Haring, President pro tern., . 
Abraham Yates, Jr., President pro tern., . 
Abraham Yates, Jr., . 
Peter R. Livingston, ..... 
Abraham Ten Broeck, .... 
Leonard Ganesvoort, President ^ro tern., . 
Pierre Van Cortlandt, President of the Council 
of Safety . . ... May 



March 


10, 


1736 


October 


30, 


1736 


September 


2, 


1743 


October 


10, 


1753 


October 


12, 


1753 


September 


3, 


1755 


June 


3, 


1757 


August 


4, 


1760 


August 


8, 


1761 


October 


26, 


1761 


November 


18, 


1761 


June 


14, 


1762 


June 


28, 


1763 


November 


13, 


1765 


September 


12, 


1769 


October 


19, 


1770 


July 


9, 


1771 


April 


7, 


1774 


June 


28, 


1775 


March 


23, 


1780 


April 


17, 


1783 


CONGRESS, &c. 


May 


23, 


1775 


August 


28, 


1775 


November 


2, 


1775 


December 


6, 


1775 


December 


16, 


1776 


August 


10, 


1776 


August 


28, 


1776 


September 


26, 


1776 


March 


6, 


1777 


April 


18, 


1777 



14, 1777 



STATE. 



George Clinton, t . 
John Jay, . 



July 
July 



30, 1777 
1, 1795 



* ]\Iilitary Governors during the Revolutionary War, not recognized by the 
State of New York. 

t The Constitution of 1777 did not specify the time when the Governor should 
enter on the duties of his office. Governor Clinton was declared elected July 



3C4 



APPESDIX. 



George Clinton, . 

Morgan Li-wis 

Daniel D. Tompkinji, 

John Tayler, LieutenanuGoverDor, acting Gov- 
ernor, ..... ^farch, 

Do Will Clinton, 

Joseph C. Yale*,* January 

De Wilt CUnton, 

Natlianiel Pitcher, Lieu-. :..i:ii-Govemor, acting 

'' F-l-niary 

Muri-u > uii ... . . 

KnoM T. li.....^-, I.it'uienani-Go.citior, Acting 

Governor, . . March 

Kno* T. Throop. 
William L. Mar< y, 
Williain H. Seward,. 

Wilham C. Boi. 

T>ilaN Wri^'ht, 

J..* V . 

H.. . . 

Wx ■ - •. I! • • 

Myron II. dark, . 

John A. Kinp, 

Edwin D. Moru'an. 
Horatio S<"yniour, . . 

•on, 
Jutui I. iiuiiuian, 

LII \ANT-GOV; 

Pierre Vmi Cortlaodl, 

Stephen Van Renadaer, . . 

Jeremiah Van RaoMeUer, . 

John Broome, 

John Tayler, Pr«ftuleot pro Um, of Senate, . 

De Will Clinton, 

John Tayler. ... 



1801 
1804 
1807 



1817 
1, 1817 
1, 1823 

1825 

11, \^2S 
1829 

12. 1«9 

ls:{i 

I'-.t.i 
1843 

I » 



18;VJ 





i&ix> 




1808 




. 1777 




1795 




1801 




1804 


Jaiiunrv 


20, 1811 


Apni, 


1811 


• 


1813 



9th, and qoalUled on th* »hnr^ H«t. On t:.. in-.h Fcbniarr. 178T, an act 
paMiirl far rvf^la' h prorided that the Goventar and Lieutao- 

ant-GoTemor ahmuu enicr on uic aattaa of tbeir rat p ec d Tt oAota oo tba Itt of 
July aftar th*tr ^lM*tkio. 

* Tb« Cot ) of 1831 provldad that the Oownor and Uootioant- 

Gownor thali, on and aAer th« year 18St, aolar OD tba doUaa of their rtqMO- 
tiva oOoat oo the lat of January. 



LIEUTENANT-GOVERNORS OF NEW YORK. 365 

Erastus Root, 1^23 

James Tallmadge, ^^^^ 

Nathaniel Pitcher, ^827 

Peter R. Livingston, President pro tern, of Senate, . . 1828 

Enos T. Throop, . . 1^29 

William M. Oliver, President ^ro tern, of Senate, . . . 1830 

Edward P. Livingston, 1831 

John Tracy, ^^^^ 

Luther Bradish, 1^39 

Daniel S. Dickinson, 1843 

Addison Gardiner, 1845 

Addison Gardiner, to June, 1847 

Hamilton Fish, 1848 

George W. Patterson, 1849 

Sanford E. Church, .......-• 1851 

Sanford E. Church, » 1853 

Henry J. Raymond, . , 1855 

Henry R. Selden, 1857 

Robert Campbell, 1859 

David R. Floyd Jones, 1863 

Thomas G. Alvord, 1865 

Stewart L. Woodford, 1867 

Allen C. Beach, 1869 



366 



APPEShlX. 



6PKAKERS OF ASSEMHLY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, 

rsoM 1777 TO 1868. 



1 
S 

8 

4 

6 

6 

T 

8 



10 

11 

IS 

18 

14 

18 

16 

17 

18 

19 

80 

tl 



84 
18 
•S 
87 



80 
81 



M 
88 
81 
87 



40 
41 
48 
48 
44 
45 
46 
47 
48 
48 
80 
81 
88 
68 
64 
66 
86 
67 
66 
fiO 
00 
61 



Wallar IiTfi«»m 
Brwt 



John llalbom 
Jotw lUlbom 

John L*n«in«c. Jr. 

RKh*r-t >«rvk 

Ki 

J. 

0- 

J< 

J< 

J> 

J« 

H 

H 

<iu:iAu \«x rui > 
Innrk Two Bfftv* •> 
Mwli TM Brawk 
Mrek Tmi Brovrk 



81 



MeCoH 



JmbmW. WUkla 
wiiiuai Kortli 
Naihaa 8Mdbr-i 

Jarob Rttlwo Tmi 

flaaiaal Yooac 

Dartd Wooa* 
D»«idirooito 



JohaO. 



B.' 

RItImH Ooa4»ll 
flunurl Yoanc 

Root . 



RmH . 
Oaonv R Pavia . 
Ckaiv rtiptOO 

Chartr- iQfrtoo 

Wlltfaun HMlMr 

('h*r'«M ltuDil>hft>T 

I'f 

K«l - - »»-■-■•• 

L>i" T I'mdMl 



OrU>b»r 

Auiftlat 

<> 
J 

JUIIMU7 

January 
Jaooary 

July 

JaauarX 

Januanr 

Novnabar 

Jaattaiy 

January 

Jaauarr 

Kov^mbar 

Janoary 

Attcurt 

JMiuarr 

NovaaBDOT 

Jaaoary 

January 

Jaauarr 

Nownbac 

Jaaoary 

Jaauary 

January 
January 
Jaaoaipr 

J 

».,.. , 

Jaanarr 

Novaaabar 

Jaanary 

January 

January 

Nof««bar 

Jaaoary 

January 

Janu*ry 

January 

JkxiuAry 

January 

Janiuuy 

J«nuAry 

January 

January 

January 

J«rt«iarT 



January 
January 
Jantnrr 
January 



Irt, 17T7 
S 
•A 
<J 

... .. 1 

11. w i 

• 11 ' ' - I 

4 
•I 



^. 1 


1 

7h8 


11. 1 


7M 


«. 1 


7W 


6. 1 


701 


4. : 


m 


6.1 


7V8 


7. 


7M 


6. 1 


7% 


6. 1 


tm 


1. 1 


7W 


«. 


796 


0. 1 


I7V6 


>, 1 


HOO 


«. 


mo 


8«. 


IMS 


2&. 


W18 


81. 1 


w»4 


«. 


*«>! 


Sti. 


mi 


87. 


wt 


«. 


IWI6 


1. 


HUB 


»>. 


l«IO 


». 


^\\ 


SB. 


1-12 


n 


IH'i 




14 


•". 


.14 


16. 


IHM 


6. 


IH16 


27. 


|H18 


«. 


l««10 


4. 


IKS) 


It 


l$W 


1. 


l<QI 


27. 


1*08 


fl. 


1*04 


4, 


1*06 


a. 


!•« 


3. 


I'«t7 


1. 


1*08 


6. 


IKS 


6. 


|H» 


4. 


i«Qn 


a. 


l*«B 


1. 


!•«« 



14 

f7 



SPEAKERS OF ASSEMBLY. 



367 



Session. 


Name. 


When 


elected. 


63 


George W. Patterson 


January 


7, 1840 


64 


Peter B. Porter, Jr. .... 




January 


5 


1841 


65 


Levi S. Chatfield .... 








January 


4, 


1842 


66 


George R. Davis 








January 


3 


1843 


67 


Elisha Litchfield .... 








January 


2 


1844 


68 


Horatio Seymour .... 








January 


7 


1845 


69 


William Grain .... 








January 


6 


1846 


70 


William 0. Hasbrouck . 








January 


6 


1847 


71 


Amos IL Iladley .... 








January 


4, 


1848 


72 


Amos K. Iladley .... 








January 


2, 


1849 


73 


Noble S. Elderkin 








January 


1, 


1850 


74 


Henry J. Raymond 








January 


7, 


1851 


74 


J. B. Varnum, Jr. (extra session) 








June 


10, 


1851 


75 


Jonas C. Heartt 








January 


6, 


1852 


76 


William H. Ludlow 








January 


4, 


1853 


77 


Robert H. Pruyn 








January 


3 


1854 


78 


De Witt C. Littlejohn . 








January 


2 


1855 


79 


Orville Robinson 








January 


16 


1856 


80 


De Witt C. Littlejohn . 








January 


6 


1857 


81 


Thomas G. Alvord . 








January 


26 


1858 


82 


De Witt C. Littlejohn . 








January 


4, 


1859 


83 


De Witt C. Littlejohn . 








January 


3, 


1860 


84 


De Witt C. Littlejohn . 








January 


2 


1861 


85 


Henry J. Raymond . 








January 


7, 


1862 


86 


Theophilus C. Callicot 








January 


26 


1863 


87 


Thomas G. Alvord . 








January 


5 


1864 


88 


George G. Hoskins 








January 


3 


1865 


89 


Lyman Tremain 








January 


2 


1866 


90 


Edmund L. Pitts .... 








January 


1 


1867 


91 


William Hitchman . 








January 


7 


1868 


92 


Truman G. Younglove 








January 


6 


, 1869 


93 


William Hitchman 




• 


January 


4 


1870 



SG8 



APPEXDIX. 



RAILROADS IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 



•{..^.••.•.•••••-t^ 



A-1 
A ■ >■ 

V. Morrte 



•bt»rf 



II 
II 



Wr . . . . 

.•ton 



» 



. rolosvll*. »i»4 Waiw a»p 

nl . 
>•« ^ RH> . 

Now \ . ... ; na«hlatc 
New York ft»l il»rlrfn 
Nrw York Bn<J N»w lltrm 
Nrw Yovk. lloOHlonh-. «n4 !(orth«ii 
Nb«M»BrW«>u 

Nortlii 



.1 ' « 



t ftlMl •> 



^aiiv^ 



SowMtw 0— tomi 
■tai 

I 



(rnM'lka 



, aad K«w Tock 






Mid Etinlrm ■ 



I^nKth 

laMita*. 



140 
13 
» 

J? 

110 

« 

17 
47 
10 

}?t 

144 

IXt 

U 

10 



480 
8 

in 

m 

4» 
W 
tl 
IS 

if 

IM 
2S 

it 
J? 

M 
21 
«7 

« 

100 

U 

a*" 

« 

-J 

1« 
10 



Cwt of lloAd and 



ToUl 



TW 



fS,0:9/K8.8i 



2.4" 


,\\\ 7S 


I 


4 




4 




-a 







1 


11 




JD 




-0 












1 







■^ 




1 







i: 


J»l 


4 







'7 




•1 




4 


4:f 


n) 




4 


If' 


4 









14 









i& 




:0 




-9 


1 


t 


4 


77 


l;M.yWjOO 


fill rnTiitS 


1 


:« 


*•'• 


. -. ;4 




V 


■ ' 1ft 




i« 




(1 




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J4 




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• 1S«»»,48».M 



CANALS IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 



369 



CANALS IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 



&c. 



Erie Canal, Champlain, and Enlargements 
Champlain Canal and Glen's Falls Feeder . 

Black River Canal 

Chenango Canal 

Oneida Lake Canal and Feeder . 

Oswego Canal 

Baldwinsville Canal 

Oneida River Improvements .... 
Seneca River Towing-Path and Improvement 
Cayuga and Seneca Canal .... 

Crooked Lake Canal 

Chemung Canal and Feeder .... 

Caj'uga Inlet ...... 

Genesee Valley Canal Extension and Side Cut 



Total 



Extent 
in Miles. 



3611 
78] 
90 
97 

7 
38 

1 

20 
18 
23 

8 
39 

2 
125 



907 



Cost of Construction, 
Repairs, and Main- 
tenance. 



$63,570,855.49 

3,669,790.91 

3,752,000.68 

188,072.60 

5,303,520.66 

48,591.40 

172,000.00 

1,507.87 

2,140,592.81 

501,570.05 

2,413,032.16 

2,908.16 

7,233,156.38 



$88,997,599.17 



The Delaware and Hudson Canal, owned by an incorporated company, 
is 109 miles in length, 83 of which are in this State. Capital, $ 7,500,000. 



THE END. 



Cambridge : Electrotyped and Printed by Welch, Bigelow, & Co. 



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